How to Add Wikipedia to the Dictionary App on a Mac

macOS includes a powerful, system-wide Dictionary application. If you encounter a complex word while reading an article in Safari or typing an email, you can simply Force Click the word (or tap it with three fingers on your trackpad) to instantly view its definition in a small pop-up bubble. However, the default macOS Dictionary is heavily reliant on the New Oxford American Dictionary and Apple’s proprietary glossary. If you want richer context, translation capabilities, or historical data, you can customize the Dictionary app to pull data directly from Wikipedia and foreign language lexicons.

How to Customize the Dictionary Sources

You manage your reference sources directly from within the standalone Dictionary application, not from the main System Settings.

1. Open Launchpad (or use Spotlight Search by pressing Command + Space) and open the Dictionary application.
2. Look at the Apple menu bar at the absolute top-left of your screen and click on the word Dictionary.
3. Select Settings from the drop-down menu (or “Preferences” on older OS versions).
4. A new window will open displaying a massive list of available reference sources. This list includes dictionaries for dozens of languages, thesauruses, and Wikipedia.

Enabling Wikipedia and New Languages

To add a new source to your quick-look definitions, simply check the box next to its name.

1. Scroll down the list and find Wikipedia. Click the checkbox next to it to enable it. (You may see multiple Wikipedia options based on your region; select the one for your preferred language).
2. If you are learning a new language, scroll through the list and check the box for a translation dictionary, such as Oxford-Hachette French Dictionary (French-English).
3. Once you have checked your desired sources, close the Settings window.

The changes take effect immediately. The next time you Force Click a word, the pop-up bubble will have tabs at the bottom, allowing you to seamlessly switch between the standard Oxford definition and the Wikipedia summary.

How to Reorder the Dictionary Priority

When you enable multiple sources, the Dictionary app will display results based on a strict priority order. If the Oxford dictionary is at the top of your list, you will see its definition first. If you want Wikipedia summaries to always be the primary result, you must reorder the list.

1. Open the Dictionary Settings menu again.
2. Locate Wikipedia in the list of checked sources.
3. Click and hold your mouse on the word “Wikipedia”, and physically drag it to the absolute top of the list.
4. Release your mouse to drop it into the number one position.

Now, whenever you look up a term, macOS will query Wikipedia first and present that data at the top of your quick-look bubble.