In 1780, the Real Academia Española published the first edition of its Diccionario de la lengua castellana (later known as the Diccionario de la lengua española) in Madrid, consolidating its earlier multi-volume work into a single volume for easier use. This dictionary became the authoritative reference for the Spanish language and has been published in numerous editions since. It was a landmark in Spanish lexicography and played a key role in standardizing the language.

The Spanish Royal Academy's dictionary provided Spanish poets with an authoritative reference for their language, influencing the development of Spanish poetry from the Neoclassical period to the present day. Its definitions and usage examples shaped the vocabulary of poets like Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer and Federico García Lorca. The dictionary also served as a model for other national academies, reinforcing the link between lexicography and national identity.