The Chrome dictionary extension for English learners
SnapDic adds a hover dictionary to every page you read in Chrome: meanings, examples, levels, idioms and exam words, mostly offline. It’s free on the Chrome Web Store — and also available as a Mac app.
Mac app version 1.0.1 · macOS 14 or later · Apple Silicon and Intel. Also free on the Chrome Web Store.
What the extension does
Hover a word
ubiquitous
SAT · IELTS word · adjective · ≈C1
seeming to be everywhere at the same time
e.g. Smartphones are now ubiquitous.
via SnapDic exam vocabulary
Highlight a phrase
break the ice
Idiom / phrase · social
To ease tension at the start of a meeting or social situation so people feel comfortable.
e.g. He told a joke to break the ice.
via SnapDic · see also: warm up, get the ball rolling
Word forms explained
notarized
past tense of notarize · ≈C2
authenticate as a notary
e.g. We had to have the signature notarized.
via Open English WordNet
Your reading companion in the toolbar
Click the SnapDic icon in Chrome's toolbar to open the SnapDic panel on the page you're reading:
- Hover on / off for the page
- Skip common words slider — look up more, balanced or skip most
- Lookups — every word from this session, ready to review
- Highlight inside a definition to look that word up too
SnapDic Plus (optional)
A one-time upgrade — US$19.99 for life — that removes the sponsored banner and saves every word you look up by day. Search your saved words by date or A–Z and turn reading into a vocabulary list.
Built on Manifest V3, with the least access it needs
| Permission | Why SnapDic needs it |
|---|---|
| Read pages you visit | To find the word under your mouse. Page content is never stored or sent — only a single word, and only when it isn't built in. |
| Storage | Your settings, this session's lookups and (with Plus) saved words — kept on your device. |
| Active tab and scripting | To open the panel on the current page, and to start working on tabs that were open before installing. |
| Dictionary websites | Wiktionary, Wikipedia, Wikidata and the Free Dictionary API, for words not built in. |
No remote code, no account and no browsing history. Read the full privacy policy.
Getting started (when it's live)
Want it the moment it's out? Leave your email and we'll send one message when it's live.
Add to Chrome
Open SnapDic in the Chrome Web Store and click Add to Chrome. We'll post the link here the day it's live.
Pin the icon
Pin SnapDic in the puzzle-piece menu so the panel is one click away.
Just hover
Rest your mouse on any word on any page. Highlight two to four words for idioms.
Use whichever fits — or both
| Chrome extension | Mac app | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it works | Web pages in Chrome | Every app: Safari, Chrome, Mail, PDFs, Notes… |
| Dictionary engine and data | Same | Same |
| Text in images | — | Optional on-device OCR |
| Availability | Available now — add to Chrome | Available now — download free |
Get SnapDic for Chrome and Mac
Same dictionary, same answers, in every app.
Frequently asked questions
When will SnapDic be on the Chrome Web Store?
SnapDic is being prepared for the Chrome Web Store. Leave your email on the home page and we'll tell you once when it's live. On a Mac, you can use the SnapDic app today — it works in Chrome too.
Is the Chrome extension free?
Yes. Lookups are free and unlimited, with a small sponsored banner in the panel. SnapDic Plus is an optional one-time upgrade (US$19.99 for life) that removes the banner and saves your words.
Does it work on every website?
It works on normal web pages, including news sites, blogs, forums and web mail. Chrome doesn't allow extensions on its own settings pages or the Chrome Web Store.
Does it use Manifest V3?
Yes. SnapDic is built on Chrome's current extension platform, Manifest V3, with all of its code packaged inside the extension.
Does it work in Edge, Brave or Arc?
These browsers can install Chrome Web Store extensions, so SnapDic should work there too once it's published.
Can SnapDic see what I read?
SnapDic only reads the word under your mouse so it can look it up. It doesn't store or send page content: the only thing that leaves your computer is that single word, and only when it isn't in SnapDic's built-in data.