Is Merriam-Webster API down?
Current status, daily uptime history and troubleshooting for the Merriam-Webster API (Dictionaries).
No, Merriam-Webster is up
Merriam-Webster answered our last daily check (Oct 24, 2026, 12:25 UTC) in 690 ms with HTTP 200.
Checking Merriam-Webster now…
Sending a request from our server.
Merriam-Webster API uptime history
- Uptime
- 2 checks so far
- Last check
- Oct 24, 2026, 12:25 UTC
- Response
- 690 ms · HTTP 200
- Last up
- Now
We check Merriam-Webster's listed URL (https://dictionaryapi.com/) once a day. History started when Merriam-Webster was first checked, so new entries show fewer than 30 days.
Merriam-Webster API not working for you?
- Merriam-Webster needs an API key. A 401 or 403 usually means a missing, expired or mis-sent credential: check whether it belongs in a header or the query string.
- A 429 response means you're being rate-limited. Slow down, cache responses, and respect any Retry-After header.
- If calls fail only in the browser with a CORS error, Merriam-Webster may not allow cross-origin requests. Call it from your server instead.
- If it works from one network but not another, check firewalls, VPNs and regional blocks.
- Check the provider's documentation, status page or social accounts for planned maintenance or a changed endpoint.
Dictionaries APIs up at their last check
- 1
Random Lexicon API
Online · 592 msRandom words and definitions using optional filters.
- No API key needed
- Callable from the browser (CORS)
- HTTPS
No authHTTPSCORS - 2
Wiktionary API
Online · 942 msCollaborative dictionary data. A free dictionaries API by Wiktionary.
- No API key needed
- Callable from the browser (CORS)
- HTTPS
No authHTTPSCORS - 3
WordSoHard API
Online · 500 msWord definitions with Scrabble validity and tile score in one call, built for word games.
- No API key needed
- Callable from the browser (CORS)
- HTTPS
No authHTTPSCORS - 4
Free Dictionary API
Online · 620 msDefinitions, phonetics, pronunciations, parts of speech, examples, synonyms.
- No API key needed
- HTTPS
No authHTTPSCORS ? - 5
Chinese Text Project API
Online · 860 msOnline open-access digital library for pre-modern Chinese texts.
- No API key needed
- HTTPS
No authHTTPSCORS ?
Compare all Merriam-Webster alternatives · APIs down right now
Merriam-Webster API status FAQ
Is Merriam-Webster API down right now?
Merriam-Webster answered our last daily check (Oct 24, 2026, 12:25 UTC) in 690 ms with HTTP 200. This page also runs a live check from our server when you open it, so you can see whether Merriam-Webster is responding at this moment.
How do you check whether Merriam-Webster API is up?
Once a day our checker requests Merriam-Webster's listed URL (https://dictionaryapi.com/) and records whether it answers within 15 seconds. Answers like 401 (needs a key), 403 (blocks bots) or 429 (rate-limited) count as up, because the server responded. The listed URL is often the documentation page, so an API endpoint can occasionally fail while its docs stay up.
What can I use if Merriam-Webster API is down?
Free Dictionaries APIs that were up at their last check include Random Lexicon, Wiktionary, WordSoHard. See the full list of Merriam-Webster alternatives for a comparison.
Why does Merriam-Webster API work for others but not for me?
Merriam-Webster needs an API key. A 401 or 403 usually means a missing, expired or mis-sent credential: check whether it belongs in a header or the query string. A 429 response means you're being rate-limited. Slow down, cache responses, and respect any Retry-After header. If calls fail only in the browser with a CORS error, Merriam-Webster may not allow cross-origin requests. Call it from your server instead.