lexicographer
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of lexicographer
1650–60; < Late Greek lexikográph ( os ) ( see lexicon, -graph) + -er 1
Explanation
Ever wonder who writes dictionaries? They're called lexicographers. A lexicographer studies words and compiles the results into a dictionary. This is one of several words for a certain type of writer or editor. Just as a playwright writes plays and a poet writes poems, a lexicographer puts together dictionaries. Lexicographer come up with definitions, determines parts of speech, gives pronunciations, and sometimes provides example sentences. Lexicographer need to do a lot of research to make sure they're defining a word correctly; dictionaries are books that people need to trust. If you love words, you might enjoy being a lexicographer.
Vocabulary lists containing lexicographer
Write On!: Graph and Gram
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Dictionary Words: Lexicography Lingo
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Write Makes Might: Words About Written Language
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
On a recent weekday, the country’s leading legal lexicographer was ensconced among the 4,500 some-odd dictionaries that fill his Dallas home, revising the entry for the adjective “calculated” ahead of Black’s 13th Edition.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 30, 2025
“The further back in history, the less we can find Black people having agency over how we’re written about,” said Bianca Jenkins, a lexicographer working on the project.
From Seattle Times • May 27, 2023
That is according to responses to a tongue-in-cheek tweet from Countdown wordsmith and lexicographer Susie Dent.
From BBC • May 18, 2023
“Watching that spell-off, you got a real sense of the actual work of preparing for the Bee,” said Kory Stamper, a lexicographer and the author of “Word by Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries.”
From New York Times • Jun. 2, 2022
But no lexicographer could carry out Macdonald’s mandate.
From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
