skillfed

pyobjc-framework-DictionaryServices

Wrappers for the framework DictionaryServices on macOS

pyobjc-framework-dictionaryservices v12.2.2 621.3K downloads/30d#5,717 on PyPI803
Permissive license MIT Active released

What it is and what it does

This package is a PyObjC wrapper that bridges Python to macOS's native DictionaryServices framework. It lets you access dictionary definitions, spelling suggestions, and related linguistic services that macOS provides at the system level, directly from Python code.

The package is part of the larger PyObjC project, which provides Python bindings to Objective-C frameworks on macOS. It requires pyobjc-core (the bridge itself) and pyobjc-framework-CoreServices as dependencies. The package is actively maintained, supports Python 3.10 through 3.15, and carries no known security vulnerabilities.

Use it for:

  • Add dictionary lookup or word definition features to a macOS desktop application written in Python.
  • Integrate spell-checking capabilities into text editors or writing tools running on macOS.
  • Query linguistic services (definitions, synonyms, related terms) from system dictionaries in Python scripts.
  • Build macOS-native utilities that rely on the system's built-in dictionary data without external dependencies.

Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying

Provides Python bindings to macOS's DictionaryServices framework, enabling dictionary and spelling lookup functionality from Python code running on macOS.

Yes, if you are building a macOS application in Python and need access to system dictionary or spelling services. The package is actively maintained, has no security issues, uses a permissive license, and installs with low friction. It is only useful on macOS and requires Python 3.10 or later.

Install

pyobjc-framework-dictionaryservices on PyPI

pip

pip install pyobjc-framework-dictionaryservices

uv

uv add pyobjc-framework-dictionaryservices

poetry

poetry add pyobjc-framework-dictionaryservices

Installing pyobjc-framework-DictionaryServices

Before you install

Low friction installation as a pure-Python wheel. Actively maintained with a release 3 days old and recent commits. Requires pyobjc-core and pyobjc-framework-CoreServices as runtime dependencies.

License in practice

MIT license permits commercial and private use with minimal restrictions, making this suitable for most projects without legal concern.

Quickstart

pip install pyobjc-framework-dictionaryservices

from DictionaryServices import DCSCopyTextDefinition
# Access macOS dictionary services through the imported framework

macOS operating system required; Python 3.10 or later; pyobjc-core and pyobjc-framework-CoreServices must be installed.

Verify before relying

  • Whether DictionaryServices framework access requires specific macOS versions or system configuration beyond Python 3.10+
  • Performance characteristics when handling large-scale dictionary or spelling queries

Package facts

License MIT (permissive)
Python support supports the current Python release (>=3.10)
Install friction low — pure-Python wheel
Runtime dependencies 2 — pyobjc-core, pyobjc-framework-CoreServices
Maintenance actively maintained — 3 days since the last release
Last repo commit
First released
Downloads 621,334/month — #5,717 on PyPI (30-day window, as of 2026-08-14)
Known vulnerabilities none known (OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14)

Evidence: pyobjc_framework_dictionaryservices-12.2.2-py2.py3-none-any.whl

Keywords: PyObjC, DictionaryServices

Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableEnvironment :: ConsoleEnvironment :: MacOS X :: CocoaIntended Audience :: DevelopersNatural Language :: EnglishOperating System :: MacOS :: MacOS XProgramming Language :: Objective CProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3 :: OnlyProgramming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13Programming Language :: Python :: 3.14Programming Language :: Python :: 3.15Programming Language :: Python :: Free Threading :: 3 - StableProgramming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: CPythonTopic :: Software Development :: Libraries :: Python ModulesTopic :: Software Development :: User Interfaces

Tags

macos dictionary lookup pythonpyobjc dictionary servicesmacos spelling check apiobjective-c dictionary framework bindingmacos native dictionary access
macos-nativeobjective-c-bindings

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