Dictionary directory
Real, reputable legal dictionaries — with links that resolve. Public-domain works link a hosted full-text copy; in-copyright works link the publisher. Then, per the plan to “make and link them for different countries,” a set of per-country legal glossaries, favoring official government and court sources.
Core legal dictionaries
Black's Law Dictionary
First ed. 1891 (Henry Campbell Black); current 12th ed. 2024 (ed. Bryan A. Garner, Thomson Reuters)
Americanreference
Bouvier's Law Dictionary
First ed. 1839 (John Bouvier, 1787–1851)
Americanpublic domainfounding-adjacent
A Dictionary of the English Language (Samuel Johnson)
Published 15 April 1755 (Samuel Johnson, 1709–1784)
Englishpublic domainfounding-era
Legal glossaries by country
Each country’s legal system has its own vocabulary. These link official or flagship-reputable glossaries; the list is designed to grow.
🇺🇸 United States
The American Legal Lexicon (this site) →
MELEK / SoapBox
Bouvier's Law Dictionary (1839) →
John Bouvier — public domain
Wex legal dictionary & encyclopedia →
Cornell Legal Information Institute
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Glossary of legal terms & phrases →
The Inner Temple Library
🇨🇦 Canada
🇦🇺 Australia
AustLII — free case law & legislation →
Australasian Legal Information Institute
🇮🇳 India
Glossary of legal terms (plain language) →
Nyaaya (legal-literacy initiative)
🇪🇺 European Union
See also: what these dictionaries are and aren’t · our own American legal lexicon.