Frequently Asked Questions

whatisa.net is a lightning-fast, privacy-focused online dictionary that provides instant definitions for millions of words and terms. We've designed it to be the simplest, fastest way to understand any word - just navigate to whatisa.net/?word and get your definition instantly.

Yes! whatisa.net is completely free and always will be. We believe knowledge should be accessible to everyone without barriers. There are no hidden fees, premium tiers, or paywalls - every definition is freely available to all users.

No account is required! We don't have user accounts, logins, or registrations. Simply visit the site and start looking up words immediately. This is part of our commitment to privacy and simplicity.

Simply add ?word to our URL. For example:

• To define "serendipity": whatisa.net/?serendipity
• To define "quantum": whatisa.net/?quantum
• To define "love": whatisa.net/?love

No search box needed - the URL is your search!

Yes! You can look up multi-word phrases. Just include spaces in the URL, which will be automatically encoded. For example: whatisa.net/?machine learning or whatisa.net/?artificial intelligence. The system will find the definition if it exists in our database.

Simply copy the URL from your browser's address bar and share it! Each definition has its own unique URL. When someone clicks your link, they'll go directly to that word's definition. For example, sharing whatisa.net/?cryptocurrency will take them straight to the definition of cryptocurrency.

Absolutely! Since each word has its own URL, you can bookmark any definition just like any other webpage. Create a folder in your bookmarks for vocabulary words you're learning, technical terms for your field, or any collection of definitions you want quick access to.

We've optimized for speed in several ways:

• Intelligent prefix-based JSON loading (only loads needed data)
• Browser caching for recently viewed definitions
• Minimal, optimized code with no bloat
• No ads or tracking scripts slowing things down
• Static file serving with CDN distribution

Most definitions load in under 50 milliseconds!

Once you've looked up a word, it's cached in your browser and will be available even if you briefly lose internet connection. However, looking up new words requires an internet connection to fetch the definition data. We're exploring offline-first features for the future.

whatisa.net works on all modern browsers including:

• Chrome (version 90+)
• Firefox (version 88+)
• Safari (version 14+)
• Edge (version 90+)
• Opera (version 76+)

Mobile browsers on iOS and Android are fully supported. For the best experience, keep your browser updated.

We're currently developing a developer API for programmatic access to our definitions. Join our mailing list or check back soon for updates. The API will be free for reasonable usage with optional premium tiers for high-volume applications.

Our dictionary contains over 10 million definitions covering:

• Common English words and phrases
• Technical and scientific terminology
• Medical and legal terms
• Slang and colloquialisms
• Historical and archaic words
• International loan words

We continuously expand our database to include new words and emerging terminology.

If you find an error or have a suggestion for improving a definition, please email us at [email protected]. Include the word, the current definition, and your suggested correction. We review all submissions and update our database regularly.

Yes! We love expanding our dictionary. Send your word suggestions to [email protected]. Please include:

• The word or phrase
• A proposed definition
• An example of usage (optional)
• Source or field where it's commonly used

We especially welcome technical terms, regional expressions, and emerging internet vocabulary.

Yes, we regularly update definitions to reflect:

• Changes in word usage and meaning
• New scientific or technical understanding
• Cultural and societal evolution
• Corrections and improvements from user feedback

Language is living and constantly evolving, and our definitions evolve with it.

No, we don't track your searches or build any kind of user profile. We don't use cookies for tracking, we don't have user accounts, and we don't store your search history. Your dictionary lookups are completely private. Read our full Privacy Policy for details.

We don't use tracking cookies or any cookies for advertising/analytics. We may use local browser storage to cache definitions for faster loading and to remember display preferences (like dark/light mode if implemented), but this data never leaves your device and can be cleared at any time through your browser settings.

We don't collect personal data, so there's nothing to sell! We don't have advertising partners, data brokers, or any third-party trackers. whatisa.net is funded independently to ensure we can maintain our commitment to user privacy. Your searches are your business, not ours.

Yes! whatisa.net is an educational resource suitable for all ages. Since we don't collect any personal information, children can safely use our service without privacy concerns. We provide factual, educational definitions appropriate for learning. Parents and teachers can confidently recommend whatisa.net for vocabulary building and research.