Star Dictionary is an independent reference for word meanings, origins, idioms, slang and translations. This page explains where our information comes from, how we check it, and what we do when we get something wrong. We want you to know how much weight to put on everything you read here.
Our starting principle
A definition is a description of how people actually use a word. It is not a ruling on how they should use it. We write entries by looking at what established references record and what real usage shows. When those two disagree, we say so instead of picking a side quietly.
We are a small, new, independent site. We do not claim the authority of a centuries-old dictionary publisher. We read those publishers carefully, compare them, and turn what we find into plain explanations.
The sources we check definitions against
Every core definition is checked against more than one kind of source. The main categories are:
- Major English dictionaries. These are current general dictionaries from established publishers, in both British and American editions. They are our baseline for standard meanings, parts of speech, spelling variants and pronunciation.
- Historical dictionaries. These record how a word’s meanings developed over time, usually with dated quotations. We use them to understand older senses and to see when a meaning first appeared in print.
- Etymology references. These are dedicated works on word origins. They trace a word back through earlier forms and source languages.
- Published usage examples. These include books, newspapers, magazines, academic writing and transcribed speech. They show whether a meaning is common, rare, regional, formal or fading.
No single source is final. If major dictionaries agree on a sense, we treat it as settled. If they disagree, or if usage has clearly moved past what they record, the entry explains the difference.
How we write a definition
Most entries follow the same process.
- We confirm the word’s standard meanings and parts of speech across several general dictionaries.
- We order the senses by how common they are today. Historical order does not decide this.
- We write each definition in our own words. We do not copy wording from other dictionaries.
- We add example sentences that show the word in a natural context. Our examples are written to illustrate the meaning and are not presented as quotations unless we say they are.
- We add labels where they help. These include informal, dated, regional, offensive and chiefly US or chiefly UK.
We label a word as offensive or sensitive when the evidence shows people use or hear it that way. We do this so readers can use language with their eyes open. It is not a judgment on the reader.
Slang and new words
Slang moves faster than any printed dictionary can follow, so slang explainers work differently from standard entries.
We start from real usage. Before we explain a slang term, we look for genuine examples of people using it in published writing, interviews, song lyrics, broadcast media and public online posts. We want to see a term used repeatedly by different people in a consistent way. One viral post is not enough.
We say how new a term is. If a word or sense has only recently spread, the entry says so. If established dictionaries have not yet recorded it, we tell you that too. A term can be widely used and still be missing from the reference books.
We flag disputed meanings. Some slang means different things to different groups, regions or age groups. Some terms are contested, and people argue about what they “really” mean. In those cases we describe each meaning we can support with evidence. We do not invent a single tidy definition.
We note where a term comes from. Many slang words come out of specific communities, including African American Vernacular English, LGBTQ+ culture, gaming, music scenes and regional dialects. When the evidence points to a community of origin, we credit it. We do not present the word as if it appeared from nowhere on social media.
We revisit slang entries. A term that was fresh last year may be dated now, or may have picked up a new meaning. Slang entries are the ones we expect to update most often.
Word origins and dating
Etymology is where confident-sounding mistakes are most common, so we are careful about the claims we make.
How we date a word. When we say a word dates from a particular century or year, we mean its earliest known appearance in surviving written records. This is usually based on historical dictionaries and etymology references. A word was almost always spoken before it was written down, so a first recorded date is a minimum. It is not a birthday.
How we describe certainty. We match our wording to the strength of the evidence:
| What we write | What it means |
|---|---|
| “From…” or “Derived from…” | The origin is well established in standard etymology references. |
| “Probably from…” | Most references support this origin, but the record has gaps. |
| “Possibly from…” or “One theory is…” | There is a plausible explanation without strong evidence behind it. |
| “Origin unknown” or “Origin uncertain” | Researchers have not established where the word comes from. |
Folk etymology. Many popular word origin stories are false. They include acronym explanations for old words, tidy anecdotes about a single inventor, and stories that only work because they sound good. When a popular story is wrong or unsupported, we say so plainly and explain what the evidence actually shows. When there is no good explanation, we write “origin unknown” and do not fill the gap with a guess.
Idioms and phrases. We treat idiom origins the same way. Many phrases have several competing origin stories, and some have none that hold up. We give the earliest recorded use we can verify and label any unproven theories as theories.
How translations are checked
Translation entries give the most common equivalents of a word in other languages, along with the context in which each one fits.
- We check against bilingual dictionaries and established references for each language.
- We confirm usage in the target language, so that a translation is one native speakers actually use and not a literal word-for-word match.
- We separate senses. An English word with several meanings usually needs a different translation for each one. We show which translation goes with which meaning.
- We note regional differences where they matter, such as European versus Latin American Spanish, or European versus Brazilian Portuguese.
- We mark register, including formal, informal and vulgar, when a translation carries a tone the English word does not.
Single-word translations have limits. Idioms, slang and culturally specific terms often have no direct equivalent. When that happens, we give the closest natural expression and explain the gap. A single-word translation in those cases would be misleading.
For anything with real consequences, such as legal, medical or official documents, use a qualified human translator. Our translations are a reference and are not a certified service.
How our word tools work
Some parts of the site are interactive tools, separate from written entries. These include tools for looking up, matching, counting or rearranging words.
They run in your browser. The tools do their work on your device, inside the page you have open. Typing a word into a tool does not create an editorial entry, and it is not a request for us to review anything.
They are mechanical. Tools work from word lists and fixed rules. A tool’s result tells you a word fits a pattern. It does not mean we have written a reviewed definition for that word. A word appearing in a tool result is not an endorsement that it is standard, current or appropriate.
Word lists differ. Different games, competitions and dictionaries accept different word lists. A word our tool accepts may not be valid in a particular game, and the reverse is also true. If you are playing under official rules, check that game’s own approved list.
What we do not do
- We do not copy definitions from other dictionaries. We check against them and write our own.
- We do not present guesses as facts, especially about word origins.
- We do not invent example quotations and attribute them to real people or publications.
- We do not treat a single online post as proof that a term is established.
- We do not decide that common usage is “wrong” because an older rule says so. Where a usage is disputed or widely criticised, we describe the dispute.
Corrections and updates
Language changes, sources are updated, and we make mistakes. When we find an error or someone reports one, we check the claim against the same kinds of sources described above.
If the evidence supports a change, we update the entry. Small fixes to typos, formatting or wording are made directly. Substantive changes, such as a corrected meaning, a revised origin or a fixed translation, are made as soon as we have confirmed them. Where a correction changes what an entry says in a meaningful way, we note that the entry has been updated.
To report an error, use the contact option on the site. Tell us which entry you are writing about, what you think is wrong, and any evidence you have. We read every report. Not every suggestion leads to a change, but every one is checked.
A note on trust
We would rather tell you “we don’t know” than give you a confident answer that turns out to be false. Every label in an entry, including probably, disputed, new, origin unknown and chiefly regional, is there to show you exactly how solid each piece of information is.