# American Heritage Dictionary + — English Dictionary & Thesaurus

> Comprehensive English dictionary with advanced search and learning tools. (iPhone/iPad app by MobiSystems, Inc..)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/american-heritage-dictionary-plus/id1118313580 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [MobiSystems, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/289579214)
- Category: Reference, Education
- Price: $14.99 with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.20/5 from 132 App Store ratings · 53 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 9.0 · 56 MB
- Languages: American English, Catalan
- Released: 2016-07-08
- Data updated: 2026-09-05
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/american-heritage-dictionary-plus/id1118313580/reviews.md

## What is American Heritage Dictionary +?

The AMERICAN HERITAGE ENGLISH DICTIONARY is one of the most comprehensive and accessible resources available on any mobile device. This is the perfect solution to use at school, in the office, or at home!

Exhaustively researched and thoroughly revised, the Fifth Edition contains 10,000 new words and phrases, over 4,000 dazzling new full-color images, and authoritative, up-to-date guidance on usage. Thousands of definitions have been revised in rapidly changing fields such as astronomy and biology. Geographical entries and maps have been completely updated, and the dictionary’s signature feature notes on word history, synonymy, and language variation have all been enhanced and improved.

Word meanings are now easier to understand with thousands of new quotations from classic and contemporary writers. Etymologies explaining word origins and development have been recreated or revised to reflect the very latest scholarship. Many words are traced back to their roots in prehistory through two unique appendixes, showing word roots in ancient Indo-European and Semitic languages.

This app is tailored to professionals, students, and academics, as well as anyone who needs a comprehensive and authoritative dictionary of current English at work or at home.

LATEST APP UPDАТES: 
 • Learn in style with any of the four colorful new themes – The colorful layout will turn your learning experience into an enjoyable routine. Customize your dictionary and benefit from the cheerful mood your favorite color brings you.
 • Dive right into the intricacies of the language - With new and convenient Home page, sleeker and more intuitive visual layout, as well as innovations in the speed of searches, you can get to the desired entry faster than ever.
 • Translate and learn as you speak by using Talk & Translate – Use the speech recognition & text-to-speech app by downloading it for Free from the App Store. The great synergy between the two apps will be there to help you optimize your studies.

SEARCH TOOLS - quickly find words with the clear, functional, and easy-to-use interface.
Designed to provide the most comprehensive search experience, the dictionary combines several search tools to match or predict what  are you looking for, including:
 • Search autocomplete helps you find words quickly by displaying predictions as you type.
 • Keyword lookup allows you to search within compound words and phrases.
 • Camera search looks up words in the camera viewfinder and displays results in seconds.
 • Voice search helps you find an entry when you don’t know how a word is spelled.
Looking for a specific word but don't know how it's spelled? We've got you covered with our automatic ‘Fuzzy filter’ to correct word spelling, as well as ‘Wild card’ ('*' or '?') to replace a letter or entire parts of a word.

LEARNING TOOLS - engaging features that help you further enhance your vocabulary. Designed to give you freedom to structure your studies, the dictionary combines several learning tools to help you be more organized, including:
 • ‘Favorites’ that allow you to create custom folders with lists of words.
 • Recent list which helps you to easily review looked-up words.
 • Swipe-to-delete functionality in the Recent and Favorites menus. 
 • Word-of-the-day option to teach you a new word every day.

Feel excited by the new word or definition you just learned? Share your discovery with friends on social media, email or any other option available on your device.

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® ROGET'S THESAURUS (*available as an In-App Purchase) offers an intelligent and sensible guide to synonym selection. It provides a wide range of synonyms, ranging from mainstream vocabulary to the colorful alternatives that make English such a rich and versatile language. Thousands of slang, informal, and regional words broaden the coverage even further. Each synonym list focuses on a clear definition that quickly guides the user to the relevant meaning.

## Key features

- Comprehensive English dictionary
- Updated definitions and etymologies
- Advanced search tools (voice, camera, keyword)
- Customizable themes
- Learning tools for vocabulary enhancement
- Synonym and usage guidance

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: $14.99.

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| American Heritage English Dictionary + | $4.99 | one-time |


## Chart rankings

- #186 in Top Paid · Reference (US App Store)

## What do users think of American Heritage Dictionary +?

Overall sentiment: mixed

**Pros**

- 💎 Excellent dictionary content
- 🧐 Clear and fine-drawn definitions
- 💡 Refreshing usage paragraphs
- 🌍 Fascinating regionalisms
- 🧬 Turbocharged Indo-European roots
- ✨ Holds language like a gem
- 📚 Academic based and reliable
- 👍 Most understandable English dictionary
- 🚀 User friendly app
- 🌟 Convenient features
- 💯 Best English dictionary available
- 🏆 No other dictionary besides OED
- 🔍 Simplicity and accuracy in etymologies
- 💯 Best dictionary American English
- 🗣️ Spoken pronunciations available
- 📖 Thorough definitions
- 🌐 Offline access is great
- 🇺🇸 American English focus
- 🚀 Fast and lag-free app
- 📖 Extensive usage notes
- ✨ Beautifully graphical

**Cons**

- 😠 App is upsetting and disgusting
- 💸 Feeling cheated
- ⏳ No updates for years
- 🎨 Cartoonish interface
- 😩 Nagging rating pop-ups
- 🐌 Slow startup time
- 🚫 Audio pronunciations don't work
-  intrusive ads in expensive app
- 😭 Misleading and unethical reviews
- 💸 Expensive app with periodic payments
- 🤔 Missing settings like Restore/Backup
- 📁 Can't move words to folders
- 🔄 Have to pay again for app
- 👎 Bad user experience
- 📱 App should be removed from app store
- 😩 Annoying rate spam feature
- 🔙 No back button in definitions
- 📉 Wish entries were more detailed
- 📱 App doesn't mirror printed version

**Commonly reported bugs**

- App is upsetting and disgusting
- No regular updates of database and app
- Audio for pronunciation doesn't work
- Sound example usually don't load
- Startup time is slow
- Audio does not work
- Missing settings like Restore/Backup
- Won't let you move a word to a folder
- Have to pay again for the same app
- App should be removed from app store
- No back button in definitions

**Most requested features**

- Update database and app regularly
- Improve app interface
- Add dark mode
- Improve audio pronunciation functionality
- Add a 'back' button for definitions
- More detailed entries
- Mirror printed version more completely
- Add corpus-based linguistics to Usage Panel

## Recent user reviews (10 of 53)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/american-heritage-dictionary-plus/id1118313580/reviews.md

### 5/5 — The Wonderful Dictionary

*2026-01-01*

In grad school I lived with two Ph.D. Students in English. We had a few dictionaries in the household, but we referred to the American Heritage simply as The Wonderful Dictionary. The page layout and the pictures were nice, but it was the work itself that earned the sobriquet. Definitions are refreshingly clear and finely-drawn. Distinctions among variants come across crisply. The small paragraphs on usage are downright fun to read. And ah! the paragraphs on regionalisms! Wheee! (Yes, I’m a long-standing word nerd, and if that designation applies to you at all, you *need* this dictionary). And perhaps most crucial is the appendix of (proto-) Indo-European Roots. We who love dictionaries - especially print editions - delight in wandering through them; we ricochet along, our eyes caught by alluring words as we look up something else, catching a synonym that leads us into a random association. This Appendix turbocharges that experience. When we see those nonsensical bold-face syllables at the end of a definition, we know The Wonderful Dictionary will take us to a hidden origin that has seeded words - sometimes dozens of them - across time and space, opening linguistic relationships that we never imagined. The American Heritage Dictionary glitters and sparks. It lets us hold the language in our hands like a gem, flashing with a sense of almost spatial dimensionality. It continues to provide the most learning and the most fun I’ve ever had with a dictionary.

### 1/5 — Since 6 years no update.

*2025-04-11, version 10.0.10*

Spent huge pennies, content ok but App is upsetting and disgusting. Feeling behind cheated

### 5/5 — Fabulous dictionary

*2024-03-07*

I’m retired now but used the AHD for work for many years. Still opening it (the app) frequently.

### 2/5 — Not regular updates of database and app..

*2024-01-10*

It’s ashamed that as this app was purchased spending a considerable amount of money, app must be updated and improved on regular basis because it’s said that it is premium app. Last update was years far away.

### 4/5 — Great Dictionary, Cartoonish Interface

*2023-10-12*

The best dictionary for American English, with word origins, and a large vocabulary. This particular app interface is a bit cartoonish, as if it were designed for kids. It could be improved.

### 5/5 — Best english dictionary

*2023-10-03, version 10.0.10*

The best english dictionary available.

### 5/5 — The best

*2023-08-18, version 10.0.10*

No other dictionary, besides OED

### 5/5 — Word Origins

*2023-08-16*

This is my favorite dictionary because of the simplicity (and accuracy) with which you can trace etymologies.

### 3/5 — It’s fine

*2023-06-02, version 10.0.10*

Very useful

### 5/5 — I love American Heritage

*2023-05-13, version 10.0.10*

The definitions are excellent!

## Frequently asked questions about American Heritage Dictionary +

### What does the American Heritage Dictionary app do?

This app provides a comprehensive English dictionary with updated definitions, etymologies, and usage guidance. It includes thousands of new words and phrases, revised entries in rapidly changing fields, and enhanced notes on word history and synonymy.

### What are the key features of this dictionary app?

Key features include advanced search tools like autocomplete, keyword lookup, camera search, and voice search. It also offers learning tools to enhance vocabulary, customizable themes for a personalized experience, and detailed etymologies tracing words back to their roots.

### Is this app free to use?

The app is free to download and use, offering a comprehensive dictionary experience. There are in-app purchases available, which may unlock additional features or content.

### Who is the target audience for this app?

The app is tailored for professionals, students, and academics, as well as anyone who needs a comprehensive and authoritative dictionary of current English for work or home use.

### What kind of search functionalities are available?

The app offers several search tools including search autocomplete, keyword lookup for compound words and phrases, camera search using the viewfinder, and voice search. It also includes a 'Fuzzy filter' for correcting spelling and 'Wild card' characters for unknown letters.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 10.0.10 — 2018-07-09

This update from Apple will improve the functionality of this app. No new features are included.

•New vocabulary database (2018 edition).
•Four new colorful themes. 
•Delete and sort entries with Favorites/Recent list.

### 10.0.5 — 2017-12-14

• iOS 11 support!
• Complete visual redesign 
• New Home view for quick access to the most frequently used functions
• Now Swipe to delete entries from the Favorites and Recent menus
• Navigate the Word of the Day entries by swiping 
• Recently viewed entries will appear at the top of the search field  
• Bug fixes

### 8.5.7 — 2017-04-04

* Voice Search - speak to enter your searches quicker (iOS 10 only), also includes Voice Search Shortcut for all devices with 3D touch technology;
* Voice Over - hear the word definition of your entries (iOS 8, 9 & 10);
* Updated database - compressed data files for faster reference;
* Updated audio - new and clear records of the pronunciation.

### 8.5.4 — 2017-02-10

NEW! Invite friends - Share the app with your friends and let them know about this great reference tool! 
NEW! Shortcuts for iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S+ and iPhone7 users only:
* invite and share with friends;
* review 'Word of the day' entries;
* access the camera look-up feature; 
* search within the extensive database of the dictionary.

### 8.2.7 — 2016-09-27

* Optimised for iOS 10!
* Accessibility improvements: Integrated with VoiceOver
* Updated database: New dictionary entries included
* Bug fixes: Performance and stability enhancements

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## More apps by MobiSystems, Inc.

- [Advanced Dictionary&Thesaurus](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/advanced-dictionary-and-thesaurus/id291070079)
- [Collins Complete & Unabridged](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/collins-complete-and-unabridged/id292428480)
- [Collins German Dictionary](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/collins-german-dictionary/id312654820)
- [Collins French Dictionary](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/collins-french-dictionary/id312656152)
- [Collins Spanish Dictionary](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/collins-spanish-dictionary/id312661283)
- [Collins Polish Dictionary](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/collins-polish-dictionary/id320743577)

All apps by MobiSystems, Inc.: https://appshunter.io/developer/289579214

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-05.*
