outline

[aʊtlaɪn]

/[aʊtlaɪn]/ noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

The verdict

“outline” is outside the top-ranked German vocabulary, used as a noun - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency German
7
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Kontur, Umriss

Key facts for outline
PropertyValue
Headwordoutline
LanguageGerman
Part of speechNoun
IPA[aʊtlaɪn]
Letters7
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “outline” sits in German frequency

outline falls outside the top-100,000 ranked German words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The German entry for outline is 7 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as [aʊtlaɪn]. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for outline, and the word's spelling is regular enough that our generator found nothing worth flagging. No close-neighbour confusable shows up for this headword in our dataset, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

Our source data has no etymology on file for this entry, so its spelling pattern is best understood through pronunciation rather than a traceable origin. The correct German form is outline, spelled O-U-T-L-I-N-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    Kontur, Umriss
  2. 2
    Abriss, Gliederung, Grundriss
  3. 3
    Silhouette

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "outline"?
"outline" is spelled O-U-T-L-I-N-E. The IPA pronunciation is [aʊtlaɪn].
What does "outline" mean?
As a noun, "outline" means: Kontur, Umriss
How do you pronounce "outline"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "outline" is [aʊtlaɪn]. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "outline" come from?
"outline" is a German word. PlainSpell's reference spans five languages -- English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German -- with definitions, pronunciations, and spelling data for each.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “outline”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct German spelling is O-U-T-L-I-N-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as [aʊtlaɪn] (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more German words and confusable pairs in the same reference. German words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list