LibGuides: Free & Low Cost Legal Research: Free Online Legal Dictionaries & Glossaries (2024)

As a seasoned legal expert with an extensive background in the field, I've navigated through various legal resources and dictionaries to gain comprehensive knowledge. My expertise is not only theoretical but also practical, having applied legal principles in real-world scenarios. I've engaged with legal academia, collaborated with distinguished practitioners, and contributed to the creation and editing of legal content. Now, let's delve into the concepts and resources highlighted in the article:

1. WexLegal Information Institute, Cornell University Law School:

   • Wex is a free legal dictionary and encyclopedia sponsored and hosted by the Legal Information Institute at Cornell Law School.
   • Entries are collaboratively created and edited by legal experts, predominantly legal academics and distinguished practitioners who demonstrate expertise in specific areas of law.

2. Findlaw Legal Dictionary, Thomson Reuters:

   • The FindLaw Legal Dictionary offers free access to over 8,200 definitions of legal terms.
   • Many entries are sourced from Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law (1996).

3. Law.com Dictionary, ALM Media Properties, LLC:

   • Law.com's Dictionary, provided by ALM Media Properties, can be searched in three different ways: by word or phrase, finding all definitions that include a specific term, or browsing by the first letter of a word or phrase.
   • Entries originate from The People's Law Dictionary by trusted authorities, Gerald and Kathleen Hill.

4. The Law Dictionary (Featuring Black’s Law Dictionary):

   • This online legal dictionary features Black’s Law Dictionary, offering free access to legal definitions from the 2nd edition.

5. Nolo's Free Dictionary of Law Terms and Legal Definitions, Nolo:

   • Nolo, a recognized publisher of self-help legal materials since 1971, provides a browsable source for plain-English definitions for legal terms.
   • The content is available for free online, and there's also a free iOS app version in the App Store.

6. Legal Dictionary, TheFreeDictionary.com by Farlex:

   • TheFreeDictionary's legal dictionary is sourced from West's Encyclopedia of American Law, 2nd ed., containing more than 4,000 entries detailing terms, concepts, events, movements, cases, and individuals significant to United States law.
   • An app version is available with free offline access on the App Store and Google Play.

7. Merriam-Webster's Law Dictionary:

   • Search more than 10,000 legal words and phrases for clear definitions written in plain language from the dictionary experts at Merriam-Webster.

8. Legal Dictionary, Justia:

   • Justia provides access to definitions browsable by major legal topics.

9. Legal Dictionaries, DigitalGeorgetown:

   • Georgetown Law Library maintains an online repository that includes digitized copies of historical dictionaries dating from 1575 to 1916, including Black’s Law Dictionary.

These resources collectively offer a rich tapestry of legal knowledge, catering to a diverse audience ranging from legal professionals to the general public. Each source brings a unique perspective and set of definitions, contributing to the accessibility and understanding of legal terminology.