About Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus
I’ll be honest, I downloaded the Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus by MobiSystems out of sheer frustration. I was in the middle of a tight deadline, my brain was fried, and I kept circling around the same mediocre adjectives. Google searches felt cluttered, and my old paperback thesaurus was, well, across the room. I needed something authoritative but immediate. This app has become my go-to digital language sidekick, and after using it daily for everything from work emails to settling “is that a real word?” debates with friends, I’ve got a pretty solid feel for what it does well and where it stumbles.
Features & Highlights
The core of this app is, unsurprisingly, its definitions. Tapping in a word like “sesquipedalian” brings up a clean, detailed entry with its origin (Latin, of course), audio pronunciation (a lifesaver), and a handful of example sentences that show you how to actually use it. It’s not just a dry list. The thesaurus integration is what I use most. When I type “good,” it doesn’t just dump 50 synonyms on me; it breaks them down by context—”good” as in virtuous, skilled, pleasant, or valid. This contextual sorting saved me from suggesting a “dextrous” cup of coffee last week.
My favorite feature, though, is the “Favorites” list. I’ve started a list called “Words To Actually Use” where I stash gems I encounter in books, like “crepuscular” or “defenestrate.” Being able to review them offline on my commute is a small but perfect touch. The Word of the Day notification is a fun nudge, though I wish I could tailor it to my saved list or a specific interest.
User Experience
Using this app feels like having a very patient, very smart librarian in your pocket. The search is instant. I remember looking up “ubiquitous” during a lull in a meeting, and the definition popped up before I’d even finished typing. The interface is no-nonsense—no flashy animations, just a search bar, your recent lookups, and quick access to your bookmarks.
A real “aha” moment happened when I was reading a dense article on my tablet. I hit a wall with “hegemony.” I copied the word, switched to the Oxford app, and it immediately asked if I wanted to search for the copied text. That tiny bit of thoughtful design turned a 30-second interruption into a two-second clarification. It’s these little moments that make it feel less like an app and more like a tool that’s actually paying attention.
Pricing
The app is free to download with a basic ad-supported version that gives you a surprising amount of access. You can look up words, get definitions, and use the thesaurus. The catch is that audio pronunciations, offline access, and unlimited favorites are locked. I hit my limit on saved words after about a week, which pushed me to try the subscription.
They offer a monthly ($9.99), yearly ($29.99), or lifetime ($79.99) subscription. I opted for the yearly plan, and for me, it’s been worth it. As a professional writer, the unrestricted access to audio, offline mode (great for travel), and unlimited word lists justifies the cost. For a casual user, the free version might be plenty, but serious word nerds will want the full package.
Updates & Support
MobiSystems updates this app fairly regularly, about once every month or two. The updates aren’t groundbreaking—usually bug fixes, compatibility tweaks for new OS versions, and occasionally adding new words to the database. It’s clear they’re maintaining it, not reinventing it. I had one issue where the audio wouldn’t play, and I contacted support through the app. I got a generic auto-response first, but a human followed up within 48 hours with a troubleshooting step that actually worked. It wasn’t lightning fast, but it was resolved.
Security & Privacy
I downloaded the app directly from the Google Play Store. The app does require an internet connection for initial lookups and audio in the free version, which is standard. Their privacy policy states they collect anonymized usage data for analytics (like which features are used most) and, if you subscribe, your purchase data. The free version shows small banner ads, but I didn’t encounter any of the aggressive, full-screen video ads that plague other free apps. Once I subscribed, the ads disappeared completely. It feels like a fairly clean, low-tracking experience, especially for a dictionary.
How does the thesaurus handle synonyms for common words like 'good'?
Instead of just dumping a long list, the app breaks synonyms down by context—for example, 'good' as in virtuous, skilled, pleasant, or valid. This helps you pick the right word without accidentally calling a cup of coffee 'dextrous'.
Can I save words and review them later offline?
Yes, you can create custom Favorites lists like 'Words To Actually Use' to save gems you encounter. These lists are accessible offline, so you can review them on your commute or anywhere without an internet connection.
The app feels sluggish or won't open—what should I do?
First, make sure your app is updated to the latest version from your app store. If it still lags, try clearing the app's cache in your device settings or restarting your phone; a fresh restart often resolves minor glitches.
I'm not getting the Word of the Day notification—how do I fix it?
Check that notifications are enabled for the app in your device's settings, and also verify that the Word of the Day feature is toggled on inside the app's settings. If it still doesn't work, reinstalling the app usually resets the notification permissions.
How does this app compare to a free online dictionary like Merriam-Webster?
While Merriam-Webster is great for quick checks, the Oxford app offers deeper offline functionality and a thesaurus that groups synonyms by context, which is more helpful for writing. It also includes audio pronunciations and a favorites list, making it a more complete tool for daily use.
