Are all Webster's dictionaries alike?

No. After Noah Webster's death in 1843 and throughout the 19th century, Merriam-Webster produced the finest American dictionaries, building the reputation of the name "Webster's" to a point where it became a byword for quality dictionaries. But in the late 1800s and early 1900s, legal difficulties concerning the copyright and trademark of the name Webster arose, and eventually many different publisherssome rather unscrupulousbegan putting dictionaries on the market under the Webster's name. The net effect of the proliferation of Webster dictionaries is a reference-book marketplace in which consumers are unaware of or confused about what differentiates one Webster from another. In an attempt to draw attention to the issue, in 1982 our company changed its name from G. & C. Merriam Company to Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. In 1991, Merriam-Webster reinforced that move by introducing the phrase Not just Webster. Merriam-Webster to further identify and distinguish its products and to ...  more

No. After Noah Webster's death in 1843 and throughout the 19th century, Merriam-Webster produced the finest American dictionaries, building the reputation of the name "Webster's" to a point where it became a byword for quality dictionaries. But in the late 1800s and early 1900s, legal difficulties concerning the copyright and trademark of the name Webster arose, and eventually many different publisherssome rather unscrupulousbegan putting dictionaries on the market under the Webster's name. The net effect of the proliferation of Webster dictionaries is a reference-book marketplace in which consumers are unaware of or confused about what differentiates one Webster from another. In an attempt to draw attention to the issue, in 1982 our company changed its name from G. & C. Merriam Company to Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. In 1991, Merriam-Webster reinforced that move by introducing the phrase Not just Webster.  more

No. After Noah Webster's death in 1843 and throughout the 19th century, Merriam-Webster produced the finest American dictionaries, building the reputation of the name Webster's to a point where it became a byword for quality dictionaries. But in the late 1800s and early 1900s, legal difficulties concerning the copyright and trademark of the name Webster arose, and eventually many different publishers -- some rather unscrupulous -- began putting dictionaries on the market under the Webster's name. The net effect of the proliferation of Webster dictionaries is a reference-book marketplace in which consumers are unaware of or confused about what differentiates one Webster from another. In an attempt to draw attention to the issue, in 1982 the company changed its name from G. & C. Merriam Company to Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. In 1991, the company reinforced that move by introducing the phrase "Not just Webster. Merriam-Webster.  more