bilinear

/baɪˈlɪn.i.ə/

//baɪˈlɪn.i.ə// adj

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

"bilinear" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“bilinear” is uncommon English (frequency #74,766 among 31,241 “B” headwords), classed as an adjective. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#74,766
frequency rank, English
31,241
“B” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Linear (preserving linear combinations) in each variable.

Key facts for bilinear
PropertyValue
Headwordbilinear
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/baɪˈlɪn.i.ə/
Letters8
Frequency rank#74,766
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “bilinear” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). bilinear lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

bilinear is uncommon English at frequency #74,766 among 31,241 “B” headwords, classed as anadjective, transcribed /baɪˈlɪn.i.ə/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 2 senses are on record.

bilinear doesn't appear in our generated misspelling index, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: From bi- + linear. The correct English form is bilinear, spelled B-I-L-I-N-E-A-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    Linear (preserving linear combinations) in each variable.
  2. 2
    Of or pertaining to a Möbius transformation (type of conformal map representable as the ratio of two linear functions).

Etymology

From bi- + linear.

This word in other languages

bilinéaire(Français)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "bilinear"?
"bilinear" is spelled B-I-L-I-N-E-A-R. The IPA pronunciation is /baɪˈlɪn.i.ə/.
What does "bilinear" mean?
As an adjective, "bilinear" means: Linear (preserving linear combinations) in each variable.
How do you pronounce "bilinear"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "bilinear" is /baɪˈlɪn.i.ə/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "bilinear"?
From bi- + linear. See the full etymology section above for more details.
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 “bilinear”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is B-I-L-I-N-E-A-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /baɪˈlɪn.i.ə/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Other uncommon English words near this rank

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