diff --git a/NAMESPACE b/NAMESPACE
index 6ce1d4b5..3c886227 100644
--- a/NAMESPACE
+++ b/NAMESPACE
@@ -120,6 +120,7 @@ export(label_comma)
 export(label_currency)
 export(label_date)
 export(label_date_short)
+export(label_dictionary)
 export(label_dollar)
 export(label_glue)
 export(label_log)
diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index 5b5a5a75..d2fa3e3d 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
   using `get_palette()` or registered using `set_palette()` (#396).
 * `label_log()` has a `signed` argument for displaying negative numbers 
   (@teunbrand, #421).
+* New `label_dictionary()` for named lookup of labels (#458).
 
 # scales 1.3.0
 
diff --git a/R/label-dictionary.R b/R/label-dictionary.R
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..15dd12e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/R/label-dictionary.R
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+
+#' Labels from lookup tables
+#'
+#' Use `label_dictionary()` for looking up succinct breaks in a named character
+#' vector giving complete labels.
+#'
+#' @param dictionary A named character vector of labels. The names are expected
+#'   to match the breaks, and the values become the labels.
+#' @param nomatch A string to label breaks that do not match any name in
+#'  `dictionary`. When `NULL` (default), the breaks are not translated but are
+#'  kept as-is.
+#'
+#' @return A labeller function that takes a character vector of breaks and
+#'   returns a character vector of labels.
+#' @export
+#' @family labels for discrete scales
+#' @examples
+#' # Example lookup table
+#' lut <- c(
+#'   "4" = "four wheel drive",
+#'   "r" = "rear wheel drive",
+#'   "f" = "front wheel drive"
+#' )
+#'
+#' # Typical usage
+#' demo_discrete(c("4", "r", "f"), labels = label_dictionary(lut))
+#' # By default, extra values ('w') will remain as-is
+#' demo_discrete(c("4", "r", "f", "w"), labels = label_dictionary(lut))
+#' # Alternatively, you can relabel extra values
+#' demo_discrete(
+#'   c("4", "r", "f", "w"),
+#'   labels = label_dictionary(lut, nomatch = "unknown")
+#' )
+label_dictionary <- function(dictionary = character(), nomatch = NULL) {
+
+  if (!is.character(dictionary)) {
+    cli::cli_abort("The {.arg dictionary} argument must be a character vector.")
+  }
+  if (!is_named2(dictionary)) {
+    cli::cli_abort("The {.arg dictionary} argument must have names.")
+  }
+  names <- names(dictionary)
+  values <- unname(dictionary)
+
+  force(nomatch)
+
+  function(x) {
+    i <- match(x, names, nomatch = NA_integer_)
+    out <- values[i]
+    missing <- is.na(i)
+    out[missing] <- if (is.null(nomatch)) x[missing] else nomatch
+    out
+  }
+}
diff --git a/man/label_dictionary.Rd b/man/label_dictionary.Rd
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ded7a697
--- /dev/null
+++ b/man/label_dictionary.Rd
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+% Generated by roxygen2: do not edit by hand
+% Please edit documentation in R/label-lut.R
+\name{label_dictionary}
+\alias{label_dictionary}
+\title{Labels from lookup tables}
+\usage{
+label_dictionary(dictionary = character(), nomatch = NULL)
+}
+\arguments{
+\item{dictionary}{A named character vector of labels. The names are expected
+to match the breaks, and the values become the labels.}
+
+\item{nomatch}{A string to label breaks that do not match any name in
+\code{dictionary}. When \code{NULL} (default), the breaks are not translated but are
+kept as-is.}
+}
+\value{
+A labeller function that takes a character vector of breaks and
+returns a character vector of labels.
+}
+\description{
+Use \code{label_dictionary()} for looking up succinct breaks in a named character
+vector giving complete labels.
+}
+\examples{
+# Example lookup table
+lut <- c(
+  "4" = "four wheel drive",
+  "r" = "rear wheel drive",
+  "f" = "front wheel drive"
+)
+
+# Typical usage
+demo_discrete(c("4", "r", "f"), labels = label_dictionary(lut))
+# By default, extra values ('w') will remain as-is
+demo_discrete(c("4", "r", "f", "w"), labels = label_dictionary(lut))
+# Alternatively, you can relabel extra values
+demo_discrete(
+  c("4", "r", "f", "w"),
+  labels = label_dictionary(lut, nomatch = "unknown")
+)
+}
+\seealso{
+Other labels for discrete scales: 
+\code{\link{label_glue}()},
+\code{\link{label_parse}()},
+\code{\link{label_wrap}()}
+}
+\concept{labels for discrete scales}
diff --git a/man/label_glue.Rd b/man/label_glue.Rd
index 3b88d0ca..f4001974 100644
--- a/man/label_glue.Rd
+++ b/man/label_glue.Rd
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ Other labels for continuous scales:
 \code{\link{label_scientific}()}
 
 Other labels for discrete scales: 
+\code{\link{label_dictionary}()},
 \code{\link{label_parse}()},
 \code{\link{label_wrap}()}
 }
diff --git a/man/label_parse.Rd b/man/label_parse.Rd
index 4d4ad9da..8c712aff 100644
--- a/man/label_parse.Rd
+++ b/man/label_parse.Rd
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ Other labels for continuous scales:
 \code{\link{label_scientific}()}
 
 Other labels for discrete scales: 
+\code{\link{label_dictionary}()},
 \code{\link{label_glue}()},
 \code{\link{label_wrap}()}
 }
diff --git a/man/label_wrap.Rd b/man/label_wrap.Rd
index 0e160437..f853a7bc 100644
--- a/man/label_wrap.Rd
+++ b/man/label_wrap.Rd
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ demo_discrete(x, labels = label_wrap(20))
 }
 \seealso{
 Other labels for discrete scales: 
+\code{\link{label_dictionary}()},
 \code{\link{label_glue}()},
 \code{\link{label_parse}()}
 }
diff --git a/man/number_options.Rd b/man/number_options.Rd
index d9c81aa5..781eafe6 100644
--- a/man/number_options.Rd
+++ b/man/number_options.Rd
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ The default (\code{NULL}) retrieves the setting from the
 
 \item{style_negative}{A string that determines the style of negative numbers:
 \itemize{
-\item \code{"hyphen"} (the default): preceded by a standard hypen \code{-}, e.g. \code{-1}.
+\item \code{"hyphen"} (the default): preceded by a standard hyphen \code{-}, e.g. \code{-1}.
 \item \code{"minus"}, uses a proper Unicode minus symbol. This is a typographical
 nicety that ensures \code{-} aligns with the horizontal bar of the
 the horizontal bar of \code{+}.
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-label-dictionary.R b/tests/testthat/test-label-dictionary.R
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..eed01331
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-label-dictionary.R
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+test_that("label_dictionary gives correct answers", {
+
+  short <- c("A", "B", "C")
+  lut <- c("A" = "Apple", "C" = "Cherry", "D" = "Date")
+
+  expect_equal(label_dictionary(lut)(short), c("Apple", "B", "Cherry"))
+  expect_equal(
+    label_dictionary(lut, nomatch = "Banana")(short),
+    c("Apple", "Banana", "Cherry")
+  )
+})