Monolingual French Dictionaries - French-only dictionaries
Top Monolingual French Dictionaries
Once you're at least intermediate, you need to think about investing in a French-only dictionary. Bilingual dictionaries are a great tool, but the're not infallible. The following monolingual dictionaries are listed from most to least complete.
Ultralingua French Dictionary and Thesaurus
This free monolingual French dictionary provides over 200,000 definitions, including thousands of idiomatic expressions and a complete French thesaurus.
ARTFL Project - Dictionnaires d'autrefois
Database including three editions of the Dictionnaire de l'Académie française and Jean Nicot's Thresor de la langue française into a searchable dictionary, allowing French speakers to study the evolution of French vocabulary.
Base de données lexicographiques panfrancophone (BDLP)
Choose between more than two dozen French-speaking countries and regions, then search for French definitions and examples used in that specific place.
Dictionnaire de l'Académie française - Base échantillon analytique
Words beginning with about a dozen letters.
Dictionnaire Dixel
Online access to this encyclopedic dictionary, from the editors of Le Grand Robert, is only available with purchase of the hard copy.
Dictionnaire Larousse
Type a word to see its definition, and then click the other tabs for expressions, synonyms, homonyms, difficulties, and quotations.
Dictionnaire multifonctions
Search for definitions, synonyms, and more with this French dictionary from TV5Monde. You can also download their dictionary toolbar to your computer (PC or Mac).
Dictionnaire des synonymes
An online French thesaurus, from the Centre national de la recherche scientifique at the Université de Caen.
Le dictionnaire vivant de la langue française (DVLF)
Le dictionnaire vivant de la langue française inclut les entrées de nombreux dictionnaires traditionnels, et propose aussi un dispositif qui rend possible votre propre contribution à la base de données.
Dict.Xmatière
Several useful and unusual French dictionaries: search by first or last letter(s), find synomyms, get help with mots croisés.
Trésor de la langue française (TLFI)
Extremely detailed information about French words, including etymology, statistics, and of course elaborate definitions. Choose between slow and high-speed online access, type your word, and learn.