COBUILD

COBUILD is the brand name used by Collins for a line of English dictionaries and language-learning resources that are built on corpus data. The project originated in the 1980s as an effort to create learner dictionaries that reflect how English is actually used. The first COBUILD Dictionary of Contemporary English was published in 1987, introducing definitions written in plain language and accompanied by numerous example sentences drawn from large language corpora. The corpus-based approach uses data from a large collection of authentic texts, such as the Bank of English, to determine meanings, usage patterns, collocations, and typical contexts.

Key features include easy-to-understand definitions, plenty of example sentences, notes on common collocations and grammar, and usage labels that help learners choose appropriate forms. The COBUILD method emphasized descriptive rather than prescriptive guidance and aimed to show language as it is used. The COBUILD series expanded to other dictionaries, learner's grammars, and supplementary study aids, and the brand grew to cover multiple varieties of English and learner levels.

Impact and legacy: COBUILD popularized corpus-based lexicography for English learners and influenced later dictionary projects by foregrounding usage-based definitions and real-world examples. Current status: The COBUILD line remains a product of Collins (a part of HarperCollins), available in print, online, and digital formats, and generally integrated with Collins' broader family of learner dictionaries and resources.