Word Validator
Before you commit a turn to a risky word, check it here. This looks the word up directly against the same UK or US list the other tools use, so results are always consistent with what the Finder and Anagram Solver would offer you.
Want the official rulebook on hand?
The official Collins Scrabble Words dictionary is the definitive reference for competitive UK play — handy for settling disputes this tool can't rule on (like challenges and word origins).
How the Validator works
Type any word and the Validator checks it directly against the same UK or US word list used by the rest of the site, so the answer you get here always matches what the Finder and Anagram Solver would allow. It's a straight lookup rather than a guess — if the word appears in the selected dictionary, it's valid; if it doesn't, it isn't, regardless of whether it "feels" like a real word.
Worked example
Type QI and, on the UK list, it comes back valid — a genuinely useful word for offloading an awkward Q without a U nearby. Type ENGLAND and it's rejected on both lists, not because it isn't a real word, but because proper nouns like place names and brand names aren't part of either Scrabble dictionary. That distinction — a word being "real" versus being "playable" — trips up a lot of new players, and it's exactly what this tool exists to settle.
Tips for using it well
- Check UK and US results separately if you're not sure which ruleset your game is using — a fair number of words are valid on one list but not the other.
- If a word comes back invalid, try the Word Finder with a similar pattern to see nearby words that would be accepted instead.
- Use this before playing anything you're not fully confident in — a failed challenge in club or tournament play typically costs you your turn.
Common questions
Why does the same word validate differently on UK and US lists?
The UK list (Collins-style, YAWL) and the US list (TWL-style, ENABLE1) are compiled from different dictionaries and don't fully overlap. Always check which ruleset applies to your game before you play, especially online or in a club setting.
Does it check plurals and past tenses separately?
Yes — each word form (e.g. WALK and WALKED) is checked as its own entry, since not every base word has every inflected form accepted in Scrabble.
Can I look up definitions here too?
Not on this page — head to Definitions for meanings, parts of speech and example sentences.
Does this work for Bananagrams too?
Bananagrams doesn't have its own official word list, so checking against a standard Scrabble list here is a reasonable stand-in — see our Bananagrams Word Checker for the full explanation.