 | |
| Parent company | Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1831 |
| Founder | George Merriam, Charles Merriam |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Headquarters location | 47 Federal Street, Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Publication types | Reference books, online dictionaries |
| Owner(s) | Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. |
| Official website | merriam-webster |
Merriam-Webster, Incorporated is an American company that publishes reference books and is mostly known for its dictionaries. It is the oldest dictionary publisher in the United States.[1]
In 1831, George and Charles Merriam founded the company as G & C Merriam Co. in Springfield, Massachusetts. In 1843, after Noah Webster died, the company bought the rights to An American Dictionary of the English Language from Webster's estate. All Merriam-Webster dictionaries trace their lineage to this source.
In 1964, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., acquired Merriam-Webster, Inc., as a subsidiary. The company adopted its current name, Merriam-Webster, Incorporated, in 1982.[2][3]
- ^ Correa, Carla (November 3, 2021). "Attention, New Englanders: Fluffernutter Is Now a Word". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
- ^ "Merriam-Webster Dictionary". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
- ^ "An American Dictionary of the English Language". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Retrieved June 24, 2015.