Einstein Search Dictionaries
Einstein Search Dictionaries is a Salesforce configuration feature that lets admins define synonyms, abbreviations, and equivalent terms so the global search engine (Einstein Search) returns the same results regardless of the exact phrasing users type.
Definition
Einstein Search Dictionaries is a Salesforce configuration feature that lets admins define synonyms, abbreviations, and equivalent terms so the global search engine (Einstein Search) returns the same results regardless of the exact phrasing users type. For example, mapping "acct" to "Account" or "IBM" to "International Business Machines" means both queries find the same records. Dictionaries are managed per language and apply across the UI search bar, Lightning list-view search, and Experience Cloud search.
In plain English
“Einstein Search Dictionaries let admins teach Salesforce search about synonyms and abbreviations. So if your team types 'opp' for 'opportunity' or 'biz' for 'business', the search still finds the right records instead of returning nothing.”
Worked example
An admin at Harborline Solutions notices reps type "oppty" and "opp" in the global search box and miss Opportunity records they know exist. She opens Einstein Search Dictionaries, creates an English synonym mapping: "oppty" ↔ "opportunity" ↔ "opp". Within an hour, reps searching any of the three get the same Opportunity results, which measurably cuts "I can't find this deal" tickets into the admin queue. She adds more mappings over time - "acct" ↔ "account", "PO" ↔ "purchase order" - growing the dictionary to match the org's real language.
Why Einstein Search Dictionaries matters
Einstein Search Dictionaries are a configuration feature within Einstein Search that lets admins define synonyms and abbreviations so users can find records regardless of the exact terminology in their query. Admins create dictionary entries mapping a search term to its synonyms (like mapping 'opp' to 'opportunity' or 'NYC' to 'New York City'), and the search engine treats them as equivalent when ranking results.
Search Dictionaries solve a common frustration: users naturally use shorthand and informal language, but search engines that match exact terms miss results when the query doesn't match the stored data. Without dictionaries, a user typing 'corp' would miss records that use 'corporation', and vice versa. Dictionaries are particularly valuable in industries with heavy jargon and abbreviations, where standard search would constantly miss obvious matches. Configuring them requires understanding how your users actually search, which often surprises admins who assumed users searched the way the data was entered.
How to set up Einstein Search Dictionaries
Einstein Search Dictionaries map synonyms, abbreviations, and equivalent terms so the global search engine returns the same results regardless of phrasing — "acct" ↔ "Account," "IBM" ↔ "International Business Machines." Boosts recall on industry / company-specific jargon. Per-language dictionaries; applies to UI search, list-view search, and Experience Cloud search.
- Confirm Einstein Search is enabled
Setup → Einstein Search → Enable. Without this, dictionaries don't apply.
- Open Setup → Einstein Search Dictionaries
Setup gear → Quick Find: Einstein Search Dictionaries → Einstein Search Dictionaries.
- Click New Dictionary
Per-language. Pick the language you're configuring.
- Set Dictionary Name and Description
Convention: per-purpose ("Industry Jargon", "Acronyms", "Product Aliases").
- Add Synonym Groups
Each group is a set of equivalent terms — "acct, account, accounts" or "NY, NYC, New York City." Tick which terms map to which canonical form.
- Save → Activate
Dictionary applies on next search. Test with a sample query that uses the synonym.
Per-language dictionaries. English / Spanish / French / etc.
Sets of equivalent terms.
Inactive dictionaries don't apply.
- Dictionaries are per-language. A user searching in Spanish doesn't pick up English synonyms — build per-language equivalents.
- Synonyms expand recall but can hurt precision. Mapping too aggressively ("customer" ↔ "client" ↔ "buyer" ↔ "prospect") returns too many results, drowning the relevant ones. Tune carefully.
- Dictionary changes apply on next search index refresh. New synonym groups don't immediately take effect — small lag (~minutes) before users see the new behavior.
How organizations use Einstein Search Dictionaries
Configured Search Dictionaries with industry-specific abbreviations after noticing that sales reps were complaining about search not finding obvious matches. The fix was a few dictionary entries away.
Maintains a Search Dictionary that maps regional and product abbreviations to their full forms, ensuring searches work regardless of which form the user types.
Reviews search logs quarterly to identify common 'no results' queries and adds appropriate dictionary entries to fix them.
Test your knowledge
Q1. What do Einstein Search Dictionaries enable?
Q2. What problem do they solve?
Q3. How can admins find good dictionary entries?
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