Erin McKean

Erin McKean (born 1969) is an American lexicographer, dictionary editor, and author. She served as editor-in-chief of American Dictionaries at Oxford University Press, overseeing major dictionary projects and editorial work in U.S. English. McKean is also the founder of Wordnik, an online dictionary and language resource that draws on a wide range of contemporary sources to document how words are used. Known for advocating descriptive approaches to language, she has worked at the intersection of traditional publishing and digital lexicography, helping bring dictionary-making into new formats and platforms. Her work reflects a sustained interest in vocabulary, usage, and the evolving life of words.