Overview
DefineMe is designed with privacy in mind, especially because it is intended for children ages 9–12. We collect as little data as possible, store everything locally on your device, and never sell or share your personal information.
What Data We Collect
The following data is created and stored locally on your device only using Apple's SwiftData framework. It never leaves your device unless you explicitly back it up via iCloud.
| Data | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Words you search | Builds your personal search history |
| Flashcards you create | Stores your vocabulary study deck |
| App settings | Saves your preferences locally (appearance, voice, API key) |
Third-Party Services
DefineMe connects to external services only to look up word definitions. The searched word is sent as part of the URL — no account, device identifier, or personal information is included.
Free Dictionary API
- Sent:
- The word you searched
- Received:
- Definitions, phonetics, and examples
- Policy:
- dictionaryapi.dev ↗
Merriam-Webster API
- Sent:
- The word you searched
- Received:
- Dictionary definitions and part-of-speech data
- Policy:
- dictionaryapi.com/info/privacy-policy ↗
Firebase (Analytics & Crash Reporting)
- Collected:
- Anonymous crash reports and basic usage analytics
- Note:
- No personal data is linked to these reports
- Policy:
- firebase.google.com/support/privacy ↗
Apple Intelligence (AI Helper)
The AI Helper feature uses Apple's on-device Foundation Models framework (requires iOS 26+ with Apple Intelligence enabled).
iCloud
DefineMe includes iCloud entitlements for potential future sync features. Currently, no data is actively synced to iCloud. If iCloud sync is added in a future update, this policy will be updated and you will be notified.
Children's Privacy
DefineMe is designed for children ages 9–12. We take this seriously:
- We do not collect any personal information from children
- There are no accounts, sign-ups, or profiles
- There are no ads, in-app purchases, or social features
- Search history and flashcards are stored only on the child's device
- Parents can delete all app data at any time by deleting the app
Data Retention & Deletion
- All locally stored data is deleted when you uninstall the app
- You can manually clear your search history and flashcards at any time within the app
- We have no server-side data to delete because we don't store any
Changes to This Policy
If we make material changes to this privacy policy, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page and note the changes in the App Store release notes.