Merriam-Webster Unabridged.com Expands

Thousands of New Words Added to the Dictionary

SPRINGFIELD, MASS., September 2002 — This month Merriam-Webster adds over 4,000 new words to Merriam-Webster Unabridged (http://www.Merriam-WebsterUnabridged.com), the company's subscription-based Web site launched earlier this year. This expansion of on-line content coincides with the publication of the 2002 copyright version of the company's flagship Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged, and enhances the core feature of the site-unlimited access to the complete text of America's largest and most comprehensive dictionary of the English language.

A decade's worth of the latest words from all areas of human knowledge are represented in this latest addenda, covering important social and cultural changes along with advances in science, medicine, and technology. From metaphorical language terms the likes of propellerhead and tree hugger to business and finance terms including mindshare and golden handcuff, the thousands of new words from this supplement will join the more than 472,000 entries already comprising the corpus of Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged.

Offering an advertising-free environment designed especially for language enthusiasts, Merriam-Webster Unabridged has been garnering praise from individual and institutional users since its debut in April. "Merriam-Webster Inc. has developed a wonderfully usable and powerful online dictionary and reference suite well suited to the needs of students and general researchers," said Library Journal. "Merriam-Webster Unabridged literally 'redefines' the notion of what a dictionary and thesaurus can be through a judicious use of web technology, functionality, and design."

This latest collection of new words, along with the six previous addenda sections added to the famous "Webster's Third" since its original publication in 1961, is also available in the 2002 copyright print version of the dictionary, now on sale in book stores across the country. As a special introductory offer, the print version of the dictionary includes a complimentary one-year subscription to Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

Merriam-Webster, Incorporated
Merriam-Webster Inc. acquired the rights to revise and publish Noah Webster's dictionaries in 1843. Since then, Merriam-Webster has maintained an ongoing commitment to innovation, scholarship, and love of language. Today, the company continues as the leader in both print and electronic language reference publishing, with reference products, learning tools, and word games.