Is This the End of the Dictionary?
4 hours ago
- #digital-transformation
- #lexicography
- #dictionary-industry
- Merriam-Webster's ambitious online-only revision of Webster’s Third New International Dictionary was abandoned due to financial struggles.
- Google’s algorithm changes and declining ad revenue led to layoffs and restructuring at Merriam-Webster.
- Dictionary.com innovated with modern updates, slang, and inclusivity but faced challenges from Google’s knowledge boxes and declining traffic.
- Rock Holdings initially supported Dictionary.com but later sold it to IXL Learning, resulting in massive layoffs.
- The dictionary industry struggles with profitability, with fewer than 50 full-time lexicographers left in the U.S.
- Merriam-Webster survived by leveraging social media and hybrid print-digital strategies, but the future of dictionaries remains uncertain.