LuigiBenetton

Q: Wrong default language in dictionary.app when accessed via Spotlight

I speak several languages, so I loaded those languages into my MacBook Pro's dictionary.

 

Most of the time, I want to access the English definition of a word via Spotlight rather than opening Dictionary.app. Until about a year ago, that worked properly.

 

About a year ago, Spotlight started showing me the French definition of the words I enter instead of the English definition. Here's a sample screenshot:

 

Screen Shot 2016-05-10 at 12.43.28 PM.png

Nothing in the Language & Region or Spotlight system preferences tells me how to fix this.

Screen Shot 2016-05-22 at 19.58.51.pngScreen Shot 2016-05-22 at 19.59.17.png

 

 

How do I make Spotlight default once again to English definitions of words?

MacBook Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11.5)

Posted on May 22, 2016 5:02 PM

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Q: Wrong default language in dictionary.app when accessed via Spotlight

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  • by Tom Gewecke,

    Tom Gewecke Tom Gewecke May 23, 2016 5:14 PM in response to LuigiBenetton
    Level 9 (79,185 points)
    May 23, 2016 5:14 PM in response to LuigiBenetton

    Have you checked the order of the dictionaries in the preferences for Dictionary.app?  I don't know if it makes a difference for spotlight, but worth a look...

  • by LuigiBenetton,

    LuigiBenetton LuigiBenetton May 23, 2016 6:33 PM in response to Tom Gewecke
    Level 1 (16 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 23, 2016 6:33 PM in response to Tom Gewecke

    Thanks for your reply, Tom.

     

    Dictionary preferences don't make a difference, unfortunately. Here's a screen shot of what I have. I played with the order just now, and it doesn't make a difference. Nor does it help if I remove the two French dictionaries from this list.

     

    dictionary.app_preferences.png

     

    On a different topic, some time ago Apple removed the ability to reorder the types of objects Spotlight displays... but maybe that's a matter for an enhancement request for Apple.