Ozwords was a publication of the Australian National Dictionary Centre, a joint project of Oxford University Press and the Australian National University.

Ozwords began in 1989 as a simple typescript Australian National Dictionary Centre Newsletter with limited circulation. Its scope and production values increased with the number of subscribers^[1] until it was re-booted as Ozwords Volume 1, Issue 1, of January 1994.^[2] From October 1999 until 2019, it was published twice a year in April and October.^[1]

Frederick Ludowyk^{[citation needed]} (1 September 1934 - 15 May 2012^[3]), writer and playwright,^[4] edited the journal for some years.^[5]

After 2012, it was also published online as a blog.^[6][7] Its last issue was Volume 28, Number 2 of October 2019, at which time it was being published twice a year.^[1][8]

The newsletter reported on activities of the centre, such as the retirement in 1994 of the director, Bill Ramson and the appointment of his successor, Bruce Moore,^[9] and some advertising material, but also included essay-length articles on some aspect of Australian vernacular, letters to the editor, and a twice-yearly competition, the prize being a $100 discount on any OUP publication.

Subscription was free of charge, on receipt of a written or faxed request.^[9]