Merriam-Webster

Merriam-Webster, Incorporated
Parent companyEncyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Founded1831; 193 years ago (1831)
FounderGeorge Merriam, Charles Merriam
Country of originUnited States
Headquarters location47 Federal Street,
Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S.
Publication typesReference books, online dictionaries
Owner(s)Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Official websitemerriam-webster.com

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]

  1. ^ Correa, Carla (November 3, 2021). "Attention, New Englanders: Fluffernutter Is Now a Word". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
  2. ^ "Merriam-Webster Dictionary". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
  3. ^ "An American Dictionary of the English Language". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Retrieved June 24, 2015.