Merriam-Webster

Merriam-Webster, Incorporated
Parent companyEncyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Founded1831 (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 websitewww.merriam-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.