Skip to main content

Who decides what’s in the dictionary? - Ilan Stavans

441,185 Views

19,297 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

While the concept of a dictionary dates back to ancient civilizations, the first English dictionary wasn’t published until 1604. In the centuries that followed, many more dictionaries were written by individual authors who chose what to include or exclude, with most quickly becoming outdated. One 19th century lexicon had a different fate. Ilan Stavans digs into the history of Webster's Dictionary.

Who is in charge of making dictionaries?

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Ilan Stavans
  • Director Lisa LaBracio
  • Narrator Addison Anderson
  • Animator Lisa LaBracio
  • Illustrator Tara Sunil Thomas

More from Playing with Language