* Dictionaries Vary: Different dictionaries include different words, and even within the same dictionary, there are different levels of formality and inclusion (e.g., technical terms, slang, archaic words).
* New Words Constantly Emerge: With the internet and evolving culture, new words are being coined all the time.
* Defining a "Word" is Complex: Do we count different forms of the same word (e.g., run, running, ran)? What about proper nouns?
Estimates:
* Oxford English Dictionary: The OED is considered the most comprehensive dictionary and has around 600,000 entries.
* Merriam-Webster: Estimates around 470,000 entries.
* Other Estimates: Some estimates suggest there could be millions of words in English when you consider technical terms, slang, and other variations.
In Conclusion: It's impossible to pinpoint an exact number of English words, but it's safe to say there are hundreds of thousands, and the number continues to grow.