Dictionary Corner

Dictionary Corner is the part of Countdown responsible for checking words in the letters game.

When contestants declare their words, Dictionary Corner confirms whether each word is allowed. If a word is not in the dictionary, or breaks the rules of the letters round, it is rejected and the contestant scores 0 for that round.

Dictionary Corner also looks for longer or more unusual words from the same letters. After the contestants' words have been checked, the host often asks what Dictionary Corner found, especially if there was a longer word available.

Susie Dent is the best-known resident lexicographer in Dictionary Corner. She has appeared on Countdown since 1992 and also appears on 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown.

There is usually also a celebrity guest in Dictionary Corner. The guest helps with the programme's wordplay and fills part of the show with stories, jokes, poems, puzzles, or other short segments.

Dictionary Corner does not decide the numbers game. Numbers rounds are checked separately by the numbers expert.