Merriam-Webster
American publisher and dictionary / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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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]
Parent company | Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. |
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Founded | 1831; 193 years ago (1831) |
Founder | George Merriam, Charles Merriam |
Country of origin | United States |
Headquarters location | 47 Federal Street, Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S. |
Publication types | Reference books, online dictionaries |
Owner(s) | Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. |
Official website | www |
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]