{"id":4641,"date":"2017-12-01T18:16:38","date_gmt":"2017-12-01T16:16:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/?p=4641"},"modified":"2026-09-15T17:18:58","modified_gmt":"2026-09-15T15:18:58","slug":"5-dictionnaires-en-ligne-pour-travailler-le-francais","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/en\/5-dictionnaires-en-ligne-pour-travailler-le-francais\/","title":{"rendered":"Free online dictionary: the 7 best to work in French"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>A student seeks the meaning of a word. It types the word in Google, falls on an automatic insert, copies an approximate definition and passes on. You know the scene. The problem is not laziness, it is that he has never had a reason to go anywhere else.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Yet the major dictionaries of the French language are online<\/strong>, free, and some are much better than what a search engine returns. It is still necessary to know which one to open, and for what to do. Le Larousse and Le Robert do not answer the same question as the Tr\u00e9sor de la langue fran\u00e7aise. The Wiktionary and the Academy Dictionary do not tell the same story.<\/p>\n<p>In short, <strong>Here are seven free online dictionaries, what they really do, and when to take them out to class<\/strong>. I have just reviewed this selection from top to bottom: two entries from the original version have disappeared, four resources have been added, and all links have been rechecked.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-16640\" src=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/dictionnaire-en-ligne-gratuit-consulte-sur-un-ordinateur-en-classe-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Free online dictionary accessed on a computer in class\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/dictionnaire-en-ligne-gratuit-consulte-sur-un-ordinateur-en-classe-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/dictionnaire-en-ligne-gratuit-consulte-sur-un-ordinateur-en-classe-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/dictionnaire-en-ligne-gratuit-consulte-sur-un-ordinateur-en-classe-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/dictionnaire-en-ligne-gratuit-consulte-sur-un-ordinateur-en-classe-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/dictionnaire-en-ligne-gratuit-consulte-sur-un-ordinateur-en-classe.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_86 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6ade46da24f2e\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseprofile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6ade46da24f2e\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/en\/5-dictionnaires-en-ligne-pour-travailler-le-francais\/#Pourquoi_un_dictionnaire_en_ligne_plutot_que_le_moteur_de_recherche\" >Why an online dictionary rather than the search engine<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/en\/5-dictionnaires-en-ligne-pour-travailler-le-francais\/#1_Dico_en_ligne_Le_Robert_le_plus_utile_au_quotidien\" >1. Dico online The Robert, the most useful on a daily basis<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/en\/5-dictionnaires-en-ligne-pour-travailler-le-francais\/#2_Le_Larousse_le_reflexe_le_plus_repandu\" >2. The Larousse, the most widespread reflex<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/en\/5-dictionnaires-en-ligne-pour-travailler-le-francais\/#3_Le_portail_lexical_du_CNRTL_pour_aller_au_fond_des_choses\" >3. The lexical portal of the CNRTL, to get to the bottom of things<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/en\/5-dictionnaires-en-ligne-pour-travailler-le-francais\/#4_Le_Dictionnaire_de_lAcademie_francaise_enfin_complet\" >4. The Dictionnaire de l\u2019Acad\u00e9mie fran\u00e7aise, finally complete<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/en\/5-dictionnaires-en-ligne-pour-travailler-le-francais\/#5_Le_Wiktionnaire_le_dictionnaire_libre\" >5. The Wiktionary, the free dictionary<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/en\/5-dictionnaires-en-ligne-pour-travailler-le-francais\/#6_Le_DES_du_CRISCO_pour_les_synonymes\" >6. The CRISCO DES, for synonyms<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/en\/5-dictionnaires-en-ligne-pour-travailler-le-francais\/#7_Usito_le_francais_dAmerique_du_Nord\" >7. Usito, French from North America<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/en\/5-dictionnaires-en-ligne-pour-travailler-le-francais\/#Quel_dictionnaire_de_francais_en_ligne_choisir_selon_le_besoin\" >Which online English dictionary to choose as needed<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/en\/5-dictionnaires-en-ligne-pour-travailler-le-francais\/#Avant_de_le_mettre_entre_les_mains_des_eleves\" >Before putting it in the hands of the students<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/en\/5-dictionnaires-en-ligne-pour-travailler-le-francais\/#Pour_aller_plus_loin\" >To go further<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/en\/5-dictionnaires-en-ligne-pour-travailler-le-francais\/#Questions_frequentes\" >Frequently asked questions<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/en\/5-dictionnaires-en-ligne-pour-travailler-le-francais\/#Quel_est_le_meilleur_dictionnaire_en_ligne_gratuit_en_francais\" >What is the best free online dictionary in English?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/en\/5-dictionnaires-en-ligne-pour-travailler-le-francais\/#Ces_dictionnaires_en_ligne_de_francais_sont-ils_vraiment_gratuits\" >Are these online dictionaries of English really free?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/en\/5-dictionnaires-en-ligne-pour-travailler-le-francais\/#Peut-on_les_utiliser_avec_des_eleves_de_primaire\" >Can they be used with primary school students?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/en\/5-dictionnaires-en-ligne-pour-travailler-le-francais\/#Le_CNRTL_a-t-il_change_dadresse\" >Has the CNRTL changed its address?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Pourquoi_un_dictionnaire_en_ligne_plutot_que_le_moteur_de_recherche\"><\/span>Why an online dictionary rather than the search engine<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The definition displayed directly in the search results comes from a source that is rarely identified, often truncated, with no example of employment or language level. It gives meaning, not use.<\/p>\n<p>A dictionary tells you whether the word is familiar or supported, whether it is constructed with \u2018\u00e0\u2019 or with \u2018de\u2019, how it is pronounced, since when it exists. For a student who writes, it is this information that changes something. And it is a gesture that can be learned, as you learn to open a paper dictionary in the right place.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Dico_en_ligne_Le_Robert_le_plus_utile_au_quotidien\"><\/span>1. Dico online The Robert, the most useful on a daily basis<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-16638\" src=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CleanShot-2026-09-10-at-17.06.07@2x-1024x599.png\" alt=\"Dico online Le Robert, free English dictionary\" width=\"645\" height=\"377\" srcset=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CleanShot-2026-09-10-at-17.06.07@2x-1024x599.png 1024w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CleanShot-2026-09-10-at-17.06.07@2x-300x175.png 300w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CleanShot-2026-09-10-at-17.06.07@2x-768x449.png 768w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CleanShot-2026-09-10-at-17.06.07@2x-1536x898.png 1536w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CleanShot-2026-09-10-at-17.06.07@2x-18x12.png 18w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CleanShot-2026-09-10-at-17.06.07@2x.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 645px) 100vw, 645px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>This is the one that I would recommend first if you were to choose only one. The site offers more than 165,000 definitions written by Robert's lexicographers, about 200,000 synonyms organized by meaning, the audio pronunciation of words and a complete conjugator.<\/p>\n<p>The organisation of synonyms by meaning is the real differentiator: instead of a flat list where \u2018do\u2019 rubs shoulders with \u2018achieve\u2019 and \u2018manufacture\u2019 without hierarchy, we see the families of meaning. A third grader who seeks to vary his vocabulary in an essay finally understands why not all synonyms are equal.<\/p>\n<p>The Robert also offers a space <strong>Dico in class<\/strong>, with downloadable resources for middle and high school and the possibility to integrate the dictionary into an ENT. He is the only one on the list to have explicitly thought about the school environment.<\/p>\n<p>Namely: Editions Le Robert also sell the Petit Robert, the Grand Robert and Le Robert Correcteur in digital version. The site pushes these offers. The online dictionary remains free.<\/p>\n<p>Link: <a href=\"https:\/\/dictionnaire.lerobert.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dico Online The Robert<\/a><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Le_Larousse_le_reflexe_le_plus_repandu\"><\/span>2. The Larousse, the most widespread reflex<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-16641\" src=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CleanShot-2026-09-10-at-17.11.08@2x-1024x842.png\" alt=\"French Dictionary Online\" width=\"576\" height=\"474\" srcset=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CleanShot-2026-09-10-at-17.11.08@2x-1024x842.png 1024w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CleanShot-2026-09-10-at-17.11.08@2x-300x247.png 300w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CleanShot-2026-09-10-at-17.11.08@2x-768x632.png 768w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CleanShot-2026-09-10-at-17.11.08@2x-15x12.png 15w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CleanShot-2026-09-10-at-17.11.08@2x.png 1498w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The online Larousse gives free access to 135,000 definitions, a dictionary of synonyms of 160,000 entries with 90,000 opposites, a conjugator covering more than 9,600 verbs and ten bilingual dictionaries.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s complete, it\u2019s known to all students, and the search is fast. Two reservations anyway.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Advertising is invasive<\/strong>, more than its competitors, and it is frankly painful in video projection. And the teaching dictionaries for 7-10 year olds and 10-15 year olds, the ones you would be most interested in in primary education, are reserved for the Premium offer. Free does not mean everything free.<\/p>\n<p>Link: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.larousse.fr\/dictionnaires\/francais\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dictionary of FrenchLarousse<\/a><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Le_portail_lexical_du_CNRTL_pour_aller_au_fond_des_choses\"><\/span>3. The lexical portal of the CNRTL, to get to the bottom of things<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-16642\" src=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CleanShot-2026-09-10-at-17.12.24@2x-1024x659.png\" alt=\"lexical portal\" width=\"593\" height=\"382\" srcset=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CleanShot-2026-09-10-at-17.12.24@2x-1024x659.png 1024w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CleanShot-2026-09-10-at-17.12.24@2x-300x193.png 300w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CleanShot-2026-09-10-at-17.12.24@2x-768x495.png 768w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CleanShot-2026-09-10-at-17.12.24@2x-1536x989.png 1536w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CleanShot-2026-09-10-at-17.12.24@2x-18x12.png 18w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CleanShot-2026-09-10-at-17.12.24@2x.png 1758w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 593px) 100vw, 593px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Created in 2005 by the CNRS and backed by the ATILF laboratory, the lexical portal gives access to the Treasury of the French language computerized, i.e. 100,000 words, 270,000 definitions and 430,000 literary examples. It also contains etymology, morphology, synonyms and a concordancer.<\/p>\n<p>It is the teacher\u2019s tool, more than the student\u2019s. When you are preparing a text explanation and want to know exactly what \u201cboring\u201d meant at Baudelaire, this is where to go. Author quotes, dated and referenced, are a mine for high school.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Novelty to know<\/strong>\u00a0: After 20 years of good and loyal services, the old interface was replaced on 1 September 2026 by a new portal, at portal-lexical.fr. The display is finally suitable for tablets and smartphones, and new resources have been integrated, including the Wiktionary. The old version remains available on cnrtl.fr for those who have their habits there.<\/p>\n<p>If you had given up the CNRTL because of its austere interface, now is the time to try again.<\/p>\n<p>Link: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.portail-lexical.fr\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CNRTL lexical portal<\/a><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Le_Dictionnaire_de_lAcademie_francaise_enfin_complet\"><\/span>4. The Dictionnaire de l\u2019Acad\u00e9mie fran\u00e7aise, finally complete<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-16643\" src=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CleanShot-2026-09-10-at-17.14.20@2x-1024x501.png\" alt=\"Dictionary of the French Academy\" width=\"639\" height=\"313\" srcset=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CleanShot-2026-09-10-at-17.14.20@2x-1024x501.png 1024w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CleanShot-2026-09-10-at-17.14.20@2x-300x147.png 300w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CleanShot-2026-09-10-at-17.14.20@2x-768x376.png 768w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CleanShot-2026-09-10-at-17.14.20@2x-1536x751.png 1536w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CleanShot-2026-09-10-at-17.14.20@2x-2048x1002.png 2048w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CleanShot-2026-09-10-at-17.14.20@2x-18x9.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 639px) 100vw, 639px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>This is news that went rather unnoticed: the 9th edition of the Dictionnaire de l\u2019Acad\u00e9mie fran\u00e7aise, which began in the 1980s, ended in November 2024 with the publication of the fourth volume. It has 53 000 entries, of which 21 000 words did not exist in the 8th edition of 1935.<\/p>\n<p>The digital portal gives free access to the full text of this 9th edition, and also to the eight previous editions since 1694. More than 250,000 entries in total, searchable and comparable.<\/p>\n<p>It is this comparison that is of great pedagogical interest. Making a class read the definition of \u2018work\u2019, \u2018woman\u2019 or \u2018slave\u2019 in 1694, 1835 and today is a ten-minute language history session. The 9th edition also adds etymological records, a first for the Academy.<\/p>\n<p>A free mobile app exists on iOS and Android.<\/p>\n<p>We had devoted an article to <a href=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/dictionnaire-de-lacademie-francaise-internet\/\" target=\"_blank\">launch of the Academy\u2019s digital portal<\/a> at the time of its opening.<\/p>\n<p>Link: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dictionnaire-academie.fr\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dictionary of the French Academy<\/a><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Le_Wiktionnaire_le_dictionnaire_libre\"><\/span>5. The Wiktionary, the free dictionary<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-16644\" src=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CleanShot-2026-09-10-at-17.19.13@2x-1024x745.png\" alt=\"Free English Dictionary the Wiktionary\" width=\"606\" height=\"441\" srcset=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CleanShot-2026-09-10-at-17.19.13@2x-1024x745.png 1024w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CleanShot-2026-09-10-at-17.19.13@2x-300x218.png 300w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CleanShot-2026-09-10-at-17.19.13@2x-768x559.png 768w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CleanShot-2026-09-10-at-17.19.13@2x-1536x1118.png 1536w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CleanShot-2026-09-10-at-17.19.13@2x-16x12.png 16w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CleanShot-2026-09-10-at-17.19.13@2x.png 1888w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 606px) 100vw, 606px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Wikipedia\u2019s sister project now exceeds 7 million pages and offers more than 441 000 main entries for French alone. The content is freely licensed, reusable, and lets itself be copied into a class document without any rights issues.<\/p>\n<p>Its particularity assumed: it is descriptive and non-normative. It describes what people say, not what should be said. This is a limit if you are looking for a standard, and a quality if you are working on language registers, regionalisms or neologisms. A word that appeared six months ago is much more likely to be found there than in Larousse.<\/p>\n<p>It is also the only one on this list that your students can enrich. Creating or completing an entry is an excellent constrained writing exercise, and the work remains visible afterwards.<\/p>\n<p>Link: <a href=\"https:\/\/fr.wiktionary.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Wiktionary<\/a><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_Le_DES_du_CRISCO_pour_les_synonymes\"><\/span>6. The CRISCO DES, for synonyms<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-16645\" src=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CleanShot-2026-09-10-at-17.20.26@2x-1024x577.png\" alt=\"The DES dictionary of synonyms\" width=\"626\" height=\"353\" srcset=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CleanShot-2026-09-10-at-17.20.26@2x-1024x577.png 1024w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CleanShot-2026-09-10-at-17.20.26@2x-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CleanShot-2026-09-10-at-17.20.26@2x-768x433.png 768w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CleanShot-2026-09-10-at-17.20.26@2x-1536x865.png 1536w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CleanShot-2026-09-10-at-17.20.26@2x-2048x1154.png 2048w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CleanShot-2026-09-10-at-17.20.26@2x-18x10.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 626px) 100vw, 626px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The electronic dictionary of synonyms of the CRISCO laboratory at the University of Caen Normandie offers more than 50 000 entries and 209 000 synonymic relationships. It receives around 150 000 requests per day, mostly from teachers and academics.<\/p>\n<p>What it does better than others: it classifies synonyms by proximity of meaning and offers a graphic representation of word families. We see at a glance that \u2018clear\u2019 does not play in the same family depending on whether we talk about a water, an explanation or a colour. Each word refers to its definition in the TLFi.<\/p>\n<p>No advertising, no registration, an interface a little dated but perfectly readable in video projection.<\/p>\n<p>Link: <a href=\"https:\/\/crisco.unicaen.fr\/des\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Electronic Dictionary of Synonyms<\/a><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7_Usito_le_francais_dAmerique_du_Nord\"><\/span>7. Usito, French from North America<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-16646\" src=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CleanShot-2026-09-10-at-17.21.34@2x-1024x429.png\" alt=\"Usito Dictionary of Quebec\" width=\"720\" height=\"302\" srcset=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CleanShot-2026-09-10-at-17.21.34@2x-1024x429.png 1024w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CleanShot-2026-09-10-at-17.21.34@2x-300x126.png 300w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CleanShot-2026-09-10-at-17.21.34@2x-768x321.png 768w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CleanShot-2026-09-10-at-17.21.34@2x-1536x643.png 1536w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CleanShot-2026-09-10-at-17.21.34@2x-18x8.png 18w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CleanShot-2026-09-10-at-17.21.34@2x.png 1892w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/>Designed at the Universit\u00e9 de Sherbrooke and free since 2019, Usito describes 60 000 words and 100 000 jobs, 10 000 of which are specific to French in use in Quebec and North America. It systematically reports orthographic corrections and proposes 5,500 conjugation tables.<\/p>\n<p>For our Quebec readers, it is the reference dictionary, from primary to university. For teachers in France and Belgium, it is an excellent support for working on the variation of French: comparing the same entry in Usito and in the Robert shows concretely that there is no French but French, all legitimate.<\/p>\n<p>We had dedicated to him <a href=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/usito-dictionnaire-quebecois-langue-francaise\/\" target=\"_blank\">a dedicated article<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Link: <a href=\"https:\/\/usito.usherbrooke.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Usito<\/a><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Quel_dictionnaire_de_francais_en_ligne_choisir_selon_le_besoin\"><\/span>Which online English dictionary to choose as needed<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\">\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>You're looking for...<\/th>\n<th>Open...<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>A clear definition, fast, with a student<\/td>\n<td>Dico Online The Robert<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>A precise synonym for a writing<\/td>\n<td>CRISCO'S DES<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>An author\u2019s quote, a nuance of meaning<\/td>\n<td>The lexical portal (TLFi)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>The story of a word, the evolution of a definition<\/td>\n<td>Dictionary of the French Academy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>A very recent word, regionalism, slang<\/td>\n<td>The Wiktionary<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>A Qu\u00e9b\u00e9cois or North American use<\/td>\n<td>Usito<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>The conjugation of a verb<\/td>\n<td>Larousse or The Robert<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Avant_de_le_mettre_entre_les_mains_des_eleves\"><\/span>Before putting it in the hands of the students<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Three reflexes, valid for any of these sites.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Test the display on the class material.<\/strong> A readable dictionary on your desktop screen can become unreadable at the back of the room. CRISCO and the lexical portal pass well in video projection, sites loaded with advertising much less.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Check the advertisement before the session.<\/strong> Some of these sites finance their free advertising, and you have no control over what will be displayed. A glance the day before avoids a nasty surprise in front of 30 pupils.<\/p>\n<p><strong>See if an account is requested.<\/strong> None of these seven dictionaries require registration for a simple consultation, but some ancillary functions require one. Having minor pupils create accounts on a third-party service is never trivial, as much as avoiding it when you can do without it.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Pour_aller_plus_loin\"><\/span>To go further<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>These seven resources deal with French. If your need is bilingual or multilingual, look at the side of <a href=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wordreference-dictionnaires-de-langues-en-ligne\/\" target=\"_blank\">WordReference<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/glosbe-plus-grand-dictionnaire-de-langues-au-monde\/\" target=\"_blank\">Glosbe<\/a>, or from our selection of <a href=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/les-meilleurs-sites-de-traduction-en-ligne\/\" target=\"_blank\">Best Online Translation Sites<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>To explore the diversity of French in the world, the <a href=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/dictionnaire-des-francophones-outil-gratuit-diversite-langue-francaise\/\" target=\"_blank\">Dictionary of Francophones<\/a> deserves a detour.<\/p>\n<p>And if the goal is to advance your students in spelling rather than making them look for definitions, <a href=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/dictaly-dictees-en-ligne-gratuites\/\" target=\"_blank\">Dictaly<\/a> offers free online dictations, while <a href=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/scribens-correcteur-dorthographe-et-de-grammaire-en-ligne\/\" target=\"_blank\">Scribens<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/antidote-12-ia-aide-a-la-redaction\/\" target=\"_blank\">Antidote<\/a> intervene at the proofreading stage.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Questions_frequentes\"><\/span>Frequently asked questions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Quel_est_le_meilleur_dictionnaire_en_ligne_gratuit_en_francais\"><\/span>What is the best free online dictionary in English?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>For everyday use with students, the online Dico Le Robert is the most complete and best organized, thanks to its synonyms classified by meaning. For more in-depth work on language, the CNRTL lexical portal and the Dictionnaire de l\u2019Acad\u00e9mie fran\u00e7aise go much further.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ces_dictionnaires_en_ligne_de_francais_sont-ils_vraiment_gratuits\"><\/span>Are these online dictionaries of English really free?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The consultation is for the seven. Beware, however, of additional offers: the Larousse teaching dictionaries for 7-15 year-olds are part of a paid Premium formula, and Le Robert markets its digital versions of Petit and Grand Robert separately.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Peut-on_les_utiliser_avec_des_eleves_de_primaire\"><\/span>Can they be used with primary school students?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yes, but with an accompaniment. Wiktionary and TLFi are too crowded for young readers. The Robert and the Larousse remain the most accessible. In primary education, the real question is not so much the choice of dictionary as learning the search gesture itself.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Le_CNRTL_a-t-il_change_dadresse\"><\/span>Has the CNRTL changed its address?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The lexical portal was replaced on 1 September 2026 by a new version accessible on portal-lexical.fr, with a mobile-friendly interface and new resources. The old version is still available on cnrtl.fr.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A student searches for the meaning of a word. It typed the word into Google, stumbled upon an automatic insert, copied an approximate definition and moved on. You know the scene. The problem is not...<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16640,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"no","footnotes":""},"categories":[37,6,14],"tags":[21,84],"class_list":["post-4641","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-francais","category-langues","category-ressources","tag-dictionnaires","tag-ressources"],"modified_by":"Fidel Navamuel","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4641","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4641"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4641\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16648,"href":"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4641\/revisions\/16648"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16640"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4641"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4641"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4641"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}