Scrabble Dictionary: Check Any Word & Find Valid Plays

Is that word valid in Scrabble? Our free Scrabble dictionary checker instantly tells you whether a word is accepted, what it means, and every other word you can make from the same tiles. Search by word or by letters — no sign-up required.

What Scrabble Dictionary Does This Site Use?

Scrabble is played under different rule sets depending on where you are. The two main dictionaries are:

• NWL (North American Word List) — formerly called TWL or OWL (Official Tournament and Club Word List). This is the official dictionary for Scrabble tournaments in the United States and Canada. It contains about 192,000 words from 2 to 15 letters.
• CSW (Collins Scrabble Words) — formerly called SOWPODS. This is the international dictionary used in Scrabble tournaments outside North America. It contains roughly 280,000 words, including everything in NWL plus many additional words accepted in British and international English.

Our 370,000-word dictionary covers virtually every word in both NWL and CSW. If a word appears in our results, it is almost certainly valid in Scrabble — but always check the official word list for the specific tournament you are playing in, as some editions may have minor differences.

How to Check If a Word Is Valid in Scrabble

1. Type the word. Enter any English word in the search box above. If it appears in the results, it is a valid English word in our dictionary.
2. Click the word for its definition. Every result links to a dedicated page with the word's meaning, part of speech, pronunciation, and synonyms. This helps you learn new words for future games.
3. Check the word length. Our results are grouped by word length. For Scrabble, focus on shorter words (2-3 letters) for parallel plays and longer words (7+ letters) for bingo bonuses.

Scrabble Word Lists Every Player Should Know

Memorizing key word lists is the single fastest way to improve your Scrabble game. Here are the essentials:

Two-letter words

There are 101 valid two-letter words in NWL and 127 in CSW. These are essential for parallel plays — placing a short word alongside an existing word to score twice. Our complete list of two-letter Scrabble words covers both dictionaries.

Three-letter words

Three-letter words open up even more parallel play opportunities and help you play through crowded boards. See our complete list of 3-letter Scrabble words with definitions and strategies.

Q-without-U words

The Q tile is worth 10 points but often feels like a liability when you don't have a U. Memorizing Q-without-U words like QI, QAT, QADI, FAQIR, and TRANQ turns that liability into an advantage. Our Q Words Without U guide lists every one.

High-value letter words (J, Q, X, Z)

J (8 pts), Q (10 pts), X (8 pts), and Z (10 pts) can make or break a game. Knowing which short words contain these letters — JO, AX, OX, ZA — lets you play them quickly instead of swapping tiles. Our Words With J, Q, X & Z guide organizes them by length and point value.

Bingo-prone 7-letter words

Playing all seven tiles in one turn earns a 50-point bingo bonus. The key is recognizing common stems like -ATION, -ING, RETAIN+, and SATINE+. Our Scrabble Bingo Words guide teaches you the most common bingo stems and how to spot them in your rack.

Tips for Scoring Higher in Scrabble

• Play parallel, not perpendicular. Instead of building off one letter, lay a word parallel to an existing word so multiple letters score on two words at once. Two-letter words make this possible.
• Target premium squares. Double and triple letter/word squares are the path to big scores. Plan your plays to land high-value tiles on premium squares.
• Balance your rack. Keep a mix of vowels and consonants. If your rack has 5 consonants, play a consonant-heavy word to draw vowels. Avoid holding duplicates of the same letter.
• Learn the two-letter words. They are the single most impactful study material. If you only memorize one list, make it the two-letter words.
• Don't hold the Q. If you can't play the Q within two turns, consider swapping it. Holding Q without U costs you both the 10-point tile value and the ability to play a better rack.

For a deeper dive, see our Scrabble Strategy guide with 15 expert tips to score higher every game.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this the official Scrabble dictionary?

Our dictionary covers virtually every word in both NWL (North American) and CSW (international) Scrabble word lists. Some proper nouns, abbreviations, and offensive terms may differ between editions. Always verify with the official word list for your specific tournament.

How do I find words from my Scrabble tiles?

Enter all seven of your rack tiles in the search box. The tool will show every valid word you can form from those letters, grouped by length. Click any word to see its definition.

What about Words With Friends?

Words With Friends uses a different, slightly smaller dictionary than Scrabble. Most words that are valid in Scrabble are also valid in Words With Friends, but not all. See our Scrabble vs Words With Friends comparison for details.

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More Scrabble Resources

• Scrabble Strategy — 15 expert tips to score higher
• Complete List of 2-Letter Scrabble Words (TWL & SOWPODS)
• Scrabble Bingo Words — how to earn the 50-point bonus
• Scrabble Tile Values & Distribution — the complete guide
• All word game guides