# allele

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈæl.iːl/ · frequency rank #32,269

## Definitions
1. One of a number of alternative forms of the same gene occupying a given position, or locus, on a chromosome.

## Etymology
Borrowed from German Allel, shortened from Allelomorph, from English allelomorph. Ultimately from the Ancient Greek ἀλλήλων (allḗlōn) from ἄλλος (állos, “other”).

## Easily confused with
- **Allen** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/allele-vs-allen)
- **alley** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/allele-vs-alley)
- **Allie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/allele-vs-allie)
- **allure** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/allele-vs-allure)
- **alleys** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/allele-vs-alleys)
- **Arlene** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/allele-vs-arlene)
- **allude** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/allele-vs-allude)
- **Allende** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/allele-vs-allende)
- **Adele** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/adele-vs-allele)
- **allege** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/allege-vs-allele)
- **alleged** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alleged-vs-allele)

## Common misspellings (6)
`alele`, `alelle`, `alleel`, `allelle`, `alllee`, `lalele`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/allele