How to Play The Dictionary Game

By Jaques of London · Est. 1795 · Updated 2026-08-17

The Dictionary Game is a bluffing and wordplay game for four or more players. One person selects an obscure word from a dictionary and reads it aloud; every other player writes a plausible-sounding fake definition, which is then read out alongside the real one. Players vote on which definition they believe is genuine, scoring points for fooling opponents or spotting the truth.

It travels well, needs almost no equipment, and works for a wide range of ages and group sizes. It is a reliable choice for family gatherings, long journeys, and dinner parties precisely because it rewards wit and creativity rather than specialist knowledge.

A little history

The Dictionary Game's origins are unclear, though games built around bluffing with words have been documented in parlour game collections since at least the late nineteenth century. The core mechanic of fabricating definitions became widely popularised in the twentieth century through commercially published party games, but the informal, equipment-light version described here predates those products and has long circulated as a traditional parlour pastime under various names including Fictionary and The Bluffing Game.

Setting up

1. Seat all players around a table so no one can read each other's paper.
2. Give every player a pen and several slips of paper or a notepad.
3. Nominate a scorekeeper who will also keep a running total visible to all.
4. Decide how many rounds you will play, typically one round per player so everyone gets a turn as the reader.
5. Choose who goes first as the reader. The youngest player or a volunteer is conventional.

How to play

1. The reader takes the dictionary and silently searches for a word that they are confident no other player knows. The word must be a real entry with a definition.
2. The reader announces the word clearly, spells it out if asked, and confirms the part of speech (noun, verb, adjective, and so on). They do not reveal the definition yet.
3. Every player except the reader writes a fake definition on their slip of paper. It should sound as plausible and dictionary-like as possible. Players fold their slips when done.
4. Meanwhile, the reader writes the genuine definition on their own slip, aiming to copy the dictionary's style faithfully rather than the exact wording.
5. The reader collects all slips, shuffles them together with their own genuine-definition slip, and then reads every definition aloud in a neutral, even tone, numbering them as they go.
6. After all definitions have been read (the reader may re-read them on request), each player except the reader privately notes down the number of the definition they believe is genuine.
7. The reader asks each player in turn to declare their vote. Players announce their chosen number publicly.
8. Scoring is then resolved (see Scoring). The reader passes the dictionary to the next player clockwise and a new round begins.
9. The reader scores two points for every player who fails to identify the genuine definition.
10. Each player who successfully identifies the genuine definition scores three points.
11. Each player whose fake definition is chosen by one or more voters scores one point per vote received.
12. The reader does not vote and cannot score from voting, only from fooling others.
13. If nobody identifies the genuine definition, the reader scores two points per player as normal. There is no bonus beyond this.
14. Play continues for the agreed number of rounds, then final scores are totalled.

Winning and scoring

The player with the highest total score after all rounds have been completed wins. With a standard one-round-per-player format, a solid winning score for a six-player game is typically in the region of twelve to eighteen points, though this varies considerably with group size and how obscure the chosen words are. In the event of a tie, the tied players each choose one final word and the remaining players vote once more; the tied player who earns the most points in that sudden-death round wins.

The fine points

The most common dispute arises when two players independently write definitions that are nearly identical. The standard ruling is that both are read out as submitted: players deserve credit for independent thinking, and the duplication itself is useful information for voters. Do not merge or discard either slip. A related problem occurs when a player accidentally writes something very close to the genuine definition without knowing it. That slip is read out as written and scores normally if voted for; the reader should not warn the group or alter the slip.

Another frequent edge case is the reader choosing a word that turns out to be known to one or more players. If a player knows the word they should declare it quietly before definitions are written, and the reader must select a different word. Once definitions have been submitted it is too late to restart the round, so that round simply proceeds. If the reader suspects a player is feigning ignorance and writing the real definition deliberately, this is not against the rules but it is considered poor form; there is no formal penalty.

How to win more often

• Match the register of the genuine entry: dictionary definitions use specific grammatical patterns. Phrases like 'of or relating to', 'chiefly dialect', or 'variant of' signal authenticity and make fake definitions far harder to dismiss.
• Pick words whose shape suggests a meaning: a long Latin-looking word invites confident-sounding fake etymology. Short blunt Anglo-Saxon words are harder to fake convincingly, so choose them when you want to stump the group.
• When voting, eliminate definitions that are too entertaining. Players unconsciously write funny or clever fakes; genuine dictionary definitions are almost always dry and technical.
• As reader, read all definitions at exactly the same pace and intonation. Experienced players will notice any change in your voice on the genuine entry.
• Track what kinds of fakes each player writes across rounds. Most people have a tell, whether that is always adding a false Latin origin or always being slightly too vague. Use that pattern when voting.

Variations

Team Play

Divide players into two or three teams. Each team confers quietly and submits one collective fake definition per round. Voting and scoring follow the standard rules, but the point totals are pooled per team. This version suits larger groups of eight or more and reduces the advantage that strong writers hold over less confident ones.

Known Words Only

Instead of obscure words, the reader chooses common words with genuine secondary or archaic meanings that most people do not know. For example, a short everyday word that also has a technical nautical or legal sense. This levels the playing field for younger players and makes the bluffing harder since voters cannot rely on unfamiliarity as a signal of fakery.

Category Round

All words chosen in a session must belong to a single declared category, such as animals, cooking terms, or geological features. This thematic constraint encourages more detailed and specific fake definitions and works well as a themed round within a longer game rather than as the sole format for an entire session.

Blind Reader

The reader writes their genuine definition from memory rather than copying it from the dictionary. The real definition is only revealed to verify the result after voting. If the reader's recalled definition is materially wrong, the round is void and replayed with a new word. This variant rewards vocabulary but introduces a useful element of doubt: the reader's definition may itself be imperfect, making it no more authoritative-sounding than a well-crafted fake.

The Dictionary Game: frequently asked questions