What Is an Electronic Dictionary

An electronic dictionary is an electronic reference resource that contains a library of words and their meanings, spellings, and etymologies. Sometimes electronic dictionaries serve a similar function to regular dictionaries; they are searchable and they allow one to find specific bits of information about words. In other cases, they work in the background of other programs, such as word processors, and exist only to ensure proper spelling. When a word typed into a word processor program does not match any of the words stored in the electronic dictionary, the word is marked, so the writer knows to check the word. Some electronic dictionaries can also serve as thesauruses or translation tools.