What dictionary does this site use?

This site uses its own wordlist for the letters solver, practice game, and conundrum generator.

The list is based on Alan Beale's 12dicts word lists, specifically 2of4brif, with custom modifications for this site. That means it is meant to be a practical game wordlist, not a complete dictionary.

The TV show uses the Oxford English Dictionary. This site does not use the OED, so there will be some differences between the words accepted here and the words that might be allowed on the programme.

Kids dictionary

The Countdown Game for Kids uses a separate, smaller dictionary for its letters rounds. That list is based on the Dale-Chall simple word list, filtered so that its words are also present in this site's main wordlist. It is intended to be used for generating easier puzzles for children, students, or early readers, rather than as a full game dictionary.

If someone checks a word in the kids game and it is in the main dictionary but not the kids dictionary, the site says so. That lets a teacher, tutor, or parent accept the word if it suits the group, while keeping the generated answers focused on simpler vocabulary.

If you notice a valid word that the site is missing, you can report a missing word. Missing-word reports are reviewed before being added.