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The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language
The third edition of a dictionary known for its close attention to high standards of English usage reflects the changing language as it has been influenced in the last ten years with an A-Z section of more than sixteen thousand new words. 150,000 first printing.
2140 pages, Hardcover
First published July 15, 1970
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725 people want to read
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December 6, 2011They've added "asshat"!
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August 14, 2022When I was in college, I took it upon myself to collect previously unknown words as I came across them. I amassed a rather large list of jotted words and their definitions in my three-ring binder, subsequently lost along my life journey. The process left me, though, with the impression that I had invested in and thereby retained a large vocabulary, my ego abundantly sated.
How misguided I was, my ego callously betrayed, it turns out, for much, much later in life I was reading one of Saul Bellow's novels and I noticed how many words he used that were new to me. "Just how many potentially useful words are there that I don't know?" I thought. "What was the point investing all that time collecting – then failing to memorize – those words in school?" I further rued. Correctly sensing that was not the moment for self-pity, I decided instead to raise the banner and charge this elusive demon for good.
So Saul Bellow set me off on a lexicographic trek. That journey of discovery was slow, taking several years, through every word in the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (5th Edition), then checking my findings against another authoritative dictionary as a test for common usage. Now I have finished. And the answer is . . . 6,434 words. Those being words new to me, words where my understanding of the definition was erroneous or words I wish to use more frequently. Naturally there were omissions, such as words relating to the sciences, medicine in particular, places and persons, foods, clothing, boating and religion, among others.
I just need to commit these 6,434 words to memory and I'll be all set, right?
How misguided I was, my ego callously betrayed, it turns out, for much, much later in life I was reading one of Saul Bellow's novels and I noticed how many words he used that were new to me. "Just how many potentially useful words are there that I don't know?" I thought. "What was the point investing all that time collecting – then failing to memorize – those words in school?" I further rued. Correctly sensing that was not the moment for self-pity, I decided instead to raise the banner and charge this elusive demon for good.
So Saul Bellow set me off on a lexicographic trek. That journey of discovery was slow, taking several years, through every word in the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (5th Edition), then checking my findings against another authoritative dictionary as a test for common usage. Now I have finished. And the answer is . . . 6,434 words. Those being words new to me, words where my understanding of the definition was erroneous or words I wish to use more frequently. Naturally there were omissions, such as words relating to the sciences, medicine in particular, places and persons, foods, clothing, boating and religion, among others.
I just need to commit these 6,434 words to memory and I'll be all set, right?
March 13, 2021
I was that weird kid always looking at the entry for Homosexuality in this edition.
April 28, 2020
Words fail on how nice a dictionary this is. With the exception of one nit I cover at the end of this review (that's much more a personal affectation than a shortcoming of the book itself) this a near-perfect dictionary.
BOTTOM LINE UP FRONT: The reader, writer, or book lover in your life will flip their wig over this dictionary. For anyone looking for an upgrade from the paperback Webster's Compact they've been totiung around, this is a nice, affordable step up.
A NOTE BEFORE WE BEGIN: Some have complained of the pages' paper weight as feeling "cheap." I don't agree. While the stock itself is as thin as one might expect in a super-large reference book, the show-through is non-existent where it counts, the text. The shapes of illustrations on the next page show through somewhat, but hardly enough to bother me. The paper is of a higher grade than my loved-to-death Webster's Ninth New Collegiate and many other dictionaries I've seen.
COMPLETENESS: Dictionaries distinguish themselves by how many senses of a word they provide. Senses are what help okay writers become better writers by not only defining the word, but showing you ways in which others may use or understand the word. Does it have ALL the words? I don't know. But it defined "bag wig" which I ran across in an old public-domain text of Nicholas Nickleby. Many, many Usage Notes help the user understand the evolution of a given word, as well as outlining commonly confused words. Our Living Language Notes are super helpful as well.
CARRYABLENESS: This is a better desk reference than a take-it-with-you volume. While it's about the height and width of the largest of college text book, at 2.5" thick (63mm), this is better suited for your desk or side table.
WORDHOLEFOLLOWABLENESS: For me, the mark of a good dictionary is how likely you are to follow "See also" references. I never fail to read a couple of extras.
READABILITY: Page layout is excellent, with the word itself rendered in a bold dark blue sans serifed type and the definitions done in a super-readable serifed face. Cloth-bound with nice end papers, and well-designed signatures let this puppy open and lie flat. Thumb indexes typically strike right in the middle of the set of pages, so E-F for example puts you halfway between "e" (the first definition in E) and "fynbos" at the conclusion of F.
AND ONE NIT, BUT YOU GOODREADS FREAKS WILL TOTALLY GET THIS:
So I recently picked up a copy of "Fowler's English Usage," a tremendously fun, understandably opinionated reference on the usage of words. As one of the standard bearers of Received Pronunciation ("BBC English" or "the standard accent of English as spoken in the south of England", Fowler's uses the International Phonetic Alphabet or IPA. It's helpful as it shows and allows the reader to vocalize words especially ones unfamilar.
The use of the famously unreadable alphabet is, I think, a rite of passage for word lovers everywhere. Sort of like when you start to "get" modern jazz.
The AHD doesn't use IPA, instead showing a more simplified AHD/English pronunciation system:
So where IPA says
dictionary = ˈdɪkʃ(ə)n(ə)ri
AHD/enPR shows
dictionary = dĭk'shə-nĕr-ē
Like I said, a nit so irritatingly small that it hardly merits mention. But for the two dozen or so of you in the world who get off on the puzzling nature of IPA notation, know that AHD doesn't offer it.
Finally, note that I didn't actually read the whole thing; just the Front Matter.
BOTTOM LINE UP FRONT: The reader, writer, or book lover in your life will flip their wig over this dictionary. For anyone looking for an upgrade from the paperback Webster's Compact they've been totiung around, this is a nice, affordable step up.
A NOTE BEFORE WE BEGIN: Some have complained of the pages' paper weight as feeling "cheap." I don't agree. While the stock itself is as thin as one might expect in a super-large reference book, the show-through is non-existent where it counts, the text. The shapes of illustrations on the next page show through somewhat, but hardly enough to bother me. The paper is of a higher grade than my loved-to-death Webster's Ninth New Collegiate and many other dictionaries I've seen.
COMPLETENESS: Dictionaries distinguish themselves by how many senses of a word they provide. Senses are what help okay writers become better writers by not only defining the word, but showing you ways in which others may use or understand the word. Does it have ALL the words? I don't know. But it defined "bag wig" which I ran across in an old public-domain text of Nicholas Nickleby. Many, many Usage Notes help the user understand the evolution of a given word, as well as outlining commonly confused words. Our Living Language Notes are super helpful as well.
CARRYABLENESS: This is a better desk reference than a take-it-with-you volume. While it's about the height and width of the largest of college text book, at 2.5" thick (63mm), this is better suited for your desk or side table.
WORDHOLEFOLLOWABLENESS: For me, the mark of a good dictionary is how likely you are to follow "See also" references. I never fail to read a couple of extras.
READABILITY: Page layout is excellent, with the word itself rendered in a bold dark blue sans serifed type and the definitions done in a super-readable serifed face. Cloth-bound with nice end papers, and well-designed signatures let this puppy open and lie flat. Thumb indexes typically strike right in the middle of the set of pages, so E-F for example puts you halfway between "e" (the first definition in E) and "fynbos" at the conclusion of F.
AND ONE NIT, BUT YOU GOODREADS FREAKS WILL TOTALLY GET THIS:
So I recently picked up a copy of "Fowler's English Usage," a tremendously fun, understandably opinionated reference on the usage of words. As one of the standard bearers of Received Pronunciation ("BBC English" or "the standard accent of English as spoken in the south of England", Fowler's uses the International Phonetic Alphabet or IPA. It's helpful as it shows and allows the reader to vocalize words especially ones unfamilar.
The use of the famously unreadable alphabet is, I think, a rite of passage for word lovers everywhere. Sort of like when you start to "get" modern jazz.
The AHD doesn't use IPA, instead showing a more simplified AHD/English pronunciation system:
So where IPA says
dictionary = ˈdɪkʃ(ə)n(ə)ri
AHD/enPR shows
dictionary = dĭk'shə-nĕr-ē
Like I said, a nit so irritatingly small that it hardly merits mention. But for the two dozen or so of you in the world who get off on the puzzling nature of IPA notation, know that AHD doesn't offer it.
Finally, note that I didn't actually read the whole thing; just the Front Matter.
August 9, 2020
I don't know what to tell you. I have not read this book cover to cover, but whenever I want to look up words while reading, I reach for this bad boy (use both hands if you can, she's heavy). I wish they had a better online presence. AHD hasn't posted on Twitter in nearly 3 years, and oftentimes when I try to use the app, it's buggy. Despite this, it's still my absolute favorite dictionary.
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January 12, 2017I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14355066
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14355066
July 27, 2019
It's a dictionary. I mean you honestly think I read it cover to back?
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August 7, 2019Given to me as an award for excellence in economics.
October 26, 2019
Excellent
April 29, 2025
Excellent Dictionary. I like my dictionaries to have the word American on them🇺🇸😎
June 24, 2012
Item Title: The American heritage dictionary of the English language (5th ed.). (2011). Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Citation created by: Michele Powell
Format: Dictionary
Call Number: 423 AME
Description: The fifth edition of this comprehensive dictionary includes 10,000 new entries, the addition of synonyms, and updates to usage notes, example sentences, and word histories. The new edition of The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language continues to use color illustrations and photos to illustrate most definitions and small maps of countries beside the countries entry.
Professional Review: Bulson, C. (2012). Adult Reference [Review of the book The American heritage dictionary of the English language]. Booklist, 108(12), 1.
Relevance and Relationship: This book would be appropriate for the collection analyzed during my field experience because the dictionaries the library currently has do not contain color illustrations and photos to illustrate most definitions. The illustrations make the dictionary more relevant for today’s teens. Hardcover edition is $60 and purchase of the dictionary entitles the owner to a free app version of the dictionary.
Purpose: The purpose of this reference is to clarify student’s word usage, increase their word knowledge, and improve their word selection when writing.
Validity: Reviewed by Booklist and the editors of The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language are educated in linguistics or the history of the English language. Usage notes are based on the opinions of respected authors, scholars, etc.
Format: Available in print and e-version. Two column format and contains color illustrations.
Arrangement and Presentation: Alphabetical order, two column format, contains color illustrations of most words, and maps of countries including major cities.
Diversity: Color illustrations make this dictionary accessible for English language learners and struggling readers.
Citation created by: Michele Powell
Format: Dictionary
Call Number: 423 AME
Description: The fifth edition of this comprehensive dictionary includes 10,000 new entries, the addition of synonyms, and updates to usage notes, example sentences, and word histories. The new edition of The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language continues to use color illustrations and photos to illustrate most definitions and small maps of countries beside the countries entry.
Professional Review: Bulson, C. (2012). Adult Reference [Review of the book The American heritage dictionary of the English language]. Booklist, 108(12), 1.
Relevance and Relationship: This book would be appropriate for the collection analyzed during my field experience because the dictionaries the library currently has do not contain color illustrations and photos to illustrate most definitions. The illustrations make the dictionary more relevant for today’s teens. Hardcover edition is $60 and purchase of the dictionary entitles the owner to a free app version of the dictionary.
Purpose: The purpose of this reference is to clarify student’s word usage, increase their word knowledge, and improve their word selection when writing.
Validity: Reviewed by Booklist and the editors of The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language are educated in linguistics or the history of the English language. Usage notes are based on the opinions of respected authors, scholars, etc.
Format: Available in print and e-version. Two column format and contains color illustrations.
Arrangement and Presentation: Alphabetical order, two column format, contains color illustrations of most words, and maps of countries including major cities.
Diversity: Color illustrations make this dictionary accessible for English language learners and struggling readers.
June 26, 2013
The American Heritage dictionary for learners of English (2002). Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
Citation by: Robbie Biddle
Type of Reference: Dictionary
Call Number: Ref 423
Content/Scope: The dictionary has added over 10,000 new words to this new edition. This dictionary primarily targets ninth through twelfth grade students. It contains color illustrations, all countries have maps associated with them, and is considered unique for the usage notes written by the contributors.
Accuracy/Authority/Bias: This book is printed by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Press. They are one of the more reputable publishers in the academic world. It was produced by a collection of people that included scholars, editors, and contributors.
Arrangement/Presentation: The book is arranged with the words in alphabetical order. Pages are set up into two columns. Definitions also have example sentences associated with them.
Relation to other works: This book and The New Oxford American Dictionary are considered to be the top two dictionaries of their type. Many people are questioning the effectiveness of these types of dictionaries within the Information Age.
Accessibility/Diversity: Each new book comes with a passkey that allows the owner to access the online version of the dictionary or one may simply purchase the online version. This allows for access anywhere the user can surf the internet. The images and examples seem to take diversity into consideration.
Cost: $60
Professional Review: Bulson, C. (2013). Booklist review American heritage dictionary of the english language. Retrieved June 26, 2013, from http://www.booklistonline.com/The-Ame...
Citation by: Robbie Biddle
Type of Reference: Dictionary
Call Number: Ref 423
Content/Scope: The dictionary has added over 10,000 new words to this new edition. This dictionary primarily targets ninth through twelfth grade students. It contains color illustrations, all countries have maps associated with them, and is considered unique for the usage notes written by the contributors.
Accuracy/Authority/Bias: This book is printed by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Press. They are one of the more reputable publishers in the academic world. It was produced by a collection of people that included scholars, editors, and contributors.
Arrangement/Presentation: The book is arranged with the words in alphabetical order. Pages are set up into two columns. Definitions also have example sentences associated with them.
Relation to other works: This book and The New Oxford American Dictionary are considered to be the top two dictionaries of their type. Many people are questioning the effectiveness of these types of dictionaries within the Information Age.
Accessibility/Diversity: Each new book comes with a passkey that allows the owner to access the online version of the dictionary or one may simply purchase the online version. This allows for access anywhere the user can surf the internet. The images and examples seem to take diversity into consideration.
Cost: $60
Professional Review: Bulson, C. (2013). Booklist review American heritage dictionary of the english language. Retrieved June 26, 2013, from http://www.booklistonline.com/The-Ame...
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December 1, 2012APA: (2011). The American heritage dictionary of the English language. (5th ed.). Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Citation by: Ashley Hill
Type of Reference: Dictionary
Call Number: 423
Description: This is a dictionary that is updated including new words that have developed since the last dictionary was published such as fracking, podcast, etc.
Relevance and Relationship: This is a relevant resource, especially as an updated resource in comparison to the other dictionaries in the library.
Purpose: To help students know the meaning, spelling, parts of speech, and pronunciation of words.
Validity: The publishing company is reputable and has had many award winning authors, books, etc.
Format: The book in alphabetical order with 2,084 pages.
Arrangement and Presentation: The book is divided alphabetically.
Diversity: This book is great for students from other cultures as it is updated. Many of the words they may have questions about such as podcast, were not even words in previous editions of this dictionary and others.
Professional Review: Bulson, C. (2012, Feb 15). Booklist review: The American heritage dictionary of the English language, fifth edition . Retrieved from http://www.booklistonline.com/The-Ame...
Citation by: Ashley Hill
Type of Reference: Dictionary
Call Number: 423
Description: This is a dictionary that is updated including new words that have developed since the last dictionary was published such as fracking, podcast, etc.
Relevance and Relationship: This is a relevant resource, especially as an updated resource in comparison to the other dictionaries in the library.
Purpose: To help students know the meaning, spelling, parts of speech, and pronunciation of words.
Validity: The publishing company is reputable and has had many award winning authors, books, etc.
Format: The book in alphabetical order with 2,084 pages.
Arrangement and Presentation: The book is divided alphabetically.
Diversity: This book is great for students from other cultures as it is updated. Many of the words they may have questions about such as podcast, were not even words in previous editions of this dictionary and others.
Professional Review: Bulson, C. (2012, Feb 15). Booklist review: The American heritage dictionary of the English language, fifth edition . Retrieved from http://www.booklistonline.com/The-Ame...
November 13, 2013
Mine is the Fourth Edition (2006) and it is wonderful - such a delight to see beautiful photos illustrating exotic words, themselves defined with love. These aren't just definitions, mind you, these are ideas. The "Usage Panel" includes people I've followed forever (Geoffrey Nunberg, Margaret Atwood, Pat Conroy, Louis Auchincloss, Roy Blount, Jr., Wm. F. Buckley, Jr.,Henry Louis Gates, Jr., David Foster Wallace...and Erdich and Didion and Theroux {OH MY!})- their disagreements are duly noted too, making the experience of lifting this hefty book so much fun. Check out the living language notes, the regional patterns of speech portion, word histories, usage notes... It's tough to put down.
Want to read
April 30, 2012American Heritage Dictionaries, Inc. (2001) The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language
ISBN-10: 0395825172, $11.68
Content/Scope: The entirety of the English Language, by definition. Literally.
Accuracy/Authority: American Heritage Dictionary is a widely-known and well-accepted publisher of American English dictionaries.
Arrangement/Presentation: No visuals, words in alphabetical order
Rationale: Every good reference collection should have various dictionaries.
Professional Review: http://www.cro2.org.libsrv.wku.edu/de...
ISBN-10: 0395825172, $11.68
Content/Scope: The entirety of the English Language, by definition. Literally.
Accuracy/Authority: American Heritage Dictionary is a widely-known and well-accepted publisher of American English dictionaries.
Arrangement/Presentation: No visuals, words in alphabetical order
Rationale: Every good reference collection should have various dictionaries.
Professional Review: http://www.cro2.org.libsrv.wku.edu/de...
December 3, 2008
"WORD HISTORY: The lowly kiosk where newspapers are sold or advertisements are posted is like a child in a fairy tale raised by humble parents but descended from kings. . . The open structures referred to by the Turkish word were used as summer houses in Turkey and Persia. The first recorded use of 'kiosk' in English refers to these Middle Eastern pavilions, which Europeans imitated in their own gardens and parks."
September 14, 2012
It was around the house in my childhood in the 70's--more comprhensive by far than Merriam-Webster, which I didn't encounter a preference for in others until I attended a community college! I loved the pictures. A WXRT (Chicago radio station) broadcaster at one time before the Internet existed pointed out that it was marvelous because the word "cleavage" was illustrated using a photo of Marilyn Monroe!
December 21, 2012
Yes ... read it ... in college.
Best class I ever took, probably. And this is THE dictionary for American speakers of English... It's no OED, but still.... for something I can actually house in my dwelling, this is it! I have two editions, in fact - the one pictured here that I've has since college (poor thing is nearly coverless) and my new one I bought as a present to myself when I renewed my teaching license
Best class I ever took, probably. And this is THE dictionary for American speakers of English... It's no OED, but still.... for something I can actually house in my dwelling, this is it! I have two editions, in fact - the one pictured here that I've has since college (poor thing is nearly coverless) and my new one I bought as a present to myself when I renewed my teaching license
December 12, 2015
American Heritage Dictionary has definitions within it that are blatantly incorrect and that is what prompted the one star rating (especially since it is a dictionary and is meant to define terms properly). Furthermore, when notified of errors in their content, they shrug it off as unimportant and continue to disseminate misinformation. Truly, this is very poor conduct on their part and this dictionary deserves to be thrown in the fireplace with the rest of the literary trash.
October 6, 2011
Interesting. This one was in my list of recommendations.
Although I hadn't thought to add it, I've been using it for years. It certainly isn't the OED (What is?), but it's a good choice, especially for the price. Also in its favor: it's an etymological dictionary with a 45-page appendix of hypothetical Proto-Indo-European word roots.
Although I hadn't thought to add it, I've been using it for years. It certainly isn't the OED (What is?), but it's a good choice, especially for the price. Also in its favor: it's an etymological dictionary with a 45-page appendix of hypothetical Proto-Indo-European word roots.
September 24, 2007
Q: who in the room actually uses a print dictionary if they've got wireless internet?
A: Nobody!
So, before the dictionary goes the way of the do-do, the auroch, and the pay-phone ... go out and buy this excellent specimen. It's got pictures. It's got a picture of an auroch! Hot diggity dog.
A: Nobody!
So, before the dictionary goes the way of the do-do, the auroch, and the pay-phone ... go out and buy this excellent specimen. It's got pictures. It's got a picture of an auroch! Hot diggity dog.
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September 4, 2013I received this as a high school graduation gift over 20 years ago. Most times, words we look up are included, but my children get a kick out of the times when a word is too new for the "big dictionary" and we end up looking for its meaning online.
March 14, 2014
A classic stand by to read for all who simply love wordsThe American Heritage Dictionary
September 27, 2007
What can you say: an indispensable tool with many informative drawings tables and photos. I use it everyday!
January 14, 2008
Though a little matter-of-fact, from A "aardvark" to Z "zymurgy" The American Heritage Dictionary can ameliorate your lexicon arsenal!
February 1, 2008
My favorite English dictionary by a long shot, so to speak.
March 16, 2008
Captivating.
April 11, 2008
The etymologies are not as good in the current edition as they were in the past . . . how sad . . .
December 16, 2008
The right dictionary for you, for me, for everybody!
May 5, 2009
an awesome dictionary, and i've been known to collect them...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews