Susie Dent

Susie Dent is a lexicographer, linguist, and author best known for her role as the resident wordsmith on the long-running British game show "Countdown," where she has served as the adjudicator for the letters rounds since 1992. Her expertise in language extends to her written works, which include titles such as "Word Perfect" and "The Language Report," showcasing her passion for etymology and the evolution of English.

Educated at the Marist Convent in Ascot and later at Somerville College, Oxford, Dent earned a B.A. in modern languages before completing a master's degree in German at Princeton University. Her career began with bilingual lexicography before she transitioned to working on English dictionaries for Oxford University Press. Dent's writing often explores linguistic curiosities, word origins, and the quirks of the English language, making her a respected voice in both academic and popular contexts.
Standalone Novels
# Title Year
1 Guilty By Definition 2024
Language Report Books
# Title Year
1 The Language Report 2003
2 Larpers and Shroomers 2004
3 Fanboys and Overdogs 2005
4 The Language Report: English on the Move, 2000-2007 2007
Non-Fiction Books
# Title Year
1 Key Skills Survival Guide 2001
2 Treetops Non-Fiction: Winning Words 2005
3 Words of the Year 2008
4 How to Talk Like a Local: From Cockney to Geordie 2008
5 What Made The Crocodile Cry? 2009
6 Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable 2012
7 Susie Dent's Weird Words 2013
8 Dent's Modern Tribes: The Secret Languages of Britain 2016
9 Word Perfect: Etymological Entertainment For Every Day of the Year 2019
10 An Emotional Dictionary 2022
11 Words to Live By 2023
12 Roots of Happiness 2023
13 Interesting Stories about Curious Words 2024
14 The Roots We Share 2025