Hi! With the OED, it has been like that at least since I started university in 2007. However, lots of public libraries have subscriptions. I just go to my library website, login, and follow the link to the OED. There are many other reference tools that are also included in my library card. Libraries rule!

Edit: you can check merriam-webster for free, I think

You can still buy the book or access the site via most libraries.

I get that it’s a bit annoying, but I’m guessing you’d also be annoyed about an ad-ridden, data-harvesting dictionary.

The Oxford English Dictionary is without a doubt the most well-researched, comprehensive, and linguistically complete English dictionary on Earth, bar none. Nothing even comes close to its depth and scope.

It perhaps is the most well-researched and comprehensive dictionary of all languages, but I wouldn’t know.

It’s laid out in an unusual way and even has words and alternate meanings that haven’t been used for centuries. It’s not meant to be a general-purpose dictionary, it’s niche and predominantly for linguistic experts or people fascinated by language.

An unbelievable amount of research goes into it, and those people deserve to be paid.

There are dozens of freely-available general-purpose dictionaries out there if you want them.

what a joke

In the past, you had to buy the book. Or go to the library to read it.
Both of which you can still do. And with a library membership you can access the web version as well.

How else do you expect the authors of the dictionary to pay their rent?

The OED has never been free. Go buy a copy and you’ll know why.

If you’re after an online dictionary, I personally like Wiktionary.

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Here’s the word, if you were wondering:

Wasn’t it always a subscription? You really would only have easy access in a university library.

It’s an extensively researched and informative book, much more so than other dictionaries. That information gathering process has to be paid for somehow.

Cambridge dictionary is free.

‘$searchTerm def’ on any search engine

Here is an alternative that aggregates from multiple sources: https://www.thefreedictionary.com/

While I do not oppose paying for definitions, there is someone confusing about collectively generated meaning being aggregated and packaged by one company for profit. A publicly maintained dictionary is a much much better alternative. I guarantee it would be more versatile and rigorous than this Oxford stuff.

This is why you should instead use Wiktionary and donate your child’s entire college fund to the Wikimedia foundation

There are plenty of other dictionaries and some of them are made of something called paper.

I personally use collins english dictionary. It’s the best online dictionary I’ve found (best descriptions).