What dictionary does the NYT Spelling Bee use?

The New York Times Spelling Bee does not use one specific dictionary to select valid words. According to Sam Ezersky, the editor of NYT Spelling Bee, he consults the built-in Apple dictionary which is based on the New Oxford American Dictionary and Merriam-Webster's online dictionary to pick words. He also consults Google News to ensure any technical words he chooses are not too obscure.

The general guidelines for valid words are as follows:

• Words must not be proper nouns, hyphenated, or abbreviations.
• Words must not be offensive or vulgar.
• Words must not be too obscure or technical.

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