3 Unexpected Methods to Boost Your Vocabulary Using Wikipedia

by Saikat Basu

Were Wikipedia to be published in physical form, it would occupy a space as vast as an aircraft hangar. The English version alone currently equals 2,570 volumes of the Encyclopædia Britannica. Imagine harnessing those 3.5 billion words to expand your lexicon.

Three Creative Strategies for Vocabulary Building with Wikipedia

Rather than manually browsing Wikipedia's countless entries, consider these three efficient methods to encounter new vocabulary regularly.

1. Leverage IFTTT for word discovery. Configure IFTTT using the provided applet to receive a weekly summary of the previous week's "Word of the day" entries. This automation connects Wikipedia with your email, sending fresh vocabulary directly to your inbox.
2. Combine Wiktionary with IFTTT. Link your Pocket account with this IFTTT applet, which forwards a Wiktionary article to your reading list. This method can also introduce foreign language terms.
3. Integrate Wikipedia with Kindle. Whether on a Paperwhite device or the Kindle app, when you encounter an unfamiliar word, Kindle offers options like Google, Wikipedia, or Translate. Choosing Wikipedia provides context beyond a simple definition—often including intriguing trivia that aids memory retention.

For example, upon looking up "mundane," I discovered that "Mundane science fiction" is a subgenre avoiding typical sci-fi conventions.

When expanding your vocabulary, immediate lookup is beneficial—it forges immediate links to your reading material. While Wikipedia is not a dictionary, the world's most comprehensive reference work can serve as a powerful vocabulary aid if you embrace its potential.