chandelier

/ˌʃæn.dəˈlɪə(ɹ)/

//ˌʃæn.dəˈlɪə(ɹ)// noun

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

"chandelier" is a 10-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“chandelier” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #22,611 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#22,611
frequency rank, English
10
letters
15
tracked misspellings
1
confusable pair

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A branched, often ornate, light fixture suspended from a ceiling.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

chandelier vs chandler
80% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for chandelier
PropertyValue
Headwordchandelier
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˌʃæn.dəˈlɪə(ɹ)/
Letters10
Frequency rank#22,611
Misspellings tracked15
Confusable pairs1
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “chandelier” 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). chandelier lands here:

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

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

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for chandelier is 10 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˌʃæn.dəˈlɪə(ɹ)/. Corpus data places it at rank #22,611 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 5 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 15 likely wrong-spelling variants for chandelier, with forms such as "cahndelier", "cchandelier", and "chadnelier". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 1 confusable-pair relationship, "chandler", since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from French chandelier, from Latin candelabrum, from candela (“a candle”). Doublet of candelabrum. See also candle. The correct English form is chandelier, spelled C-H-A-N-D-E-L-I-E-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    A branched, often ornate, light fixture suspended from a ceiling.
  2. 2
    A branched, often ornate, light fixture suspended from a ceiling.
  3. 3
    A fictional bidder used to increase the price at an auction.
  4. 4
    An endoilluminator used in eye surgery.
  5. 5
    A portable frame used to support temporary wooden fences.

Etymology

Borrowed from French chandelier, from Latin candelabrum, from candela (“a candle”). Doublet of candelabrum. See also candle.

This word in other languages

araña de luces(Español)lustre(Français)Kronleuchter(Deutsch)lustre(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: cahndelier,cchandelier,chadnelier,chanddelier,chandeiler,chandeleir,chandelierr,chandelire,chandellier,chandleier,chanedlier,channdelier,chhandelier,chnadelier,hcandelier

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of chandelier - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

cahndelier2cchandelier1chadnelier2chanddelier1chandeiler2chandeleir2chandelierr1chandelire2
Edit distance from "chandelier"

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 "chandelier"?
"chandelier" is spelled C-H-A-N-D-E-L-I-E-R. The IPA pronunciation is /ˌʃæn.dəˈlɪə(ɹ)/.
What does "chandelier" mean?
As a noun, "chandelier" means: A branched, often ornate, light fixture suspended from a ceiling.
What words are commonly confused with "chandelier"?
"chandelier" is commonly confused with "chandler". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "chandelier"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "chandelier" is /ˌʃæn.dəˈlɪə(ɹ)/. 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 "chandelier"?
Borrowed from French chandelier, from Latin candelabrum, from candela (“a candle”). Doublet of candelabrum. See also candle. 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 “chandelier”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is C-H-A-N-D-E-L-I-E-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˌʃæn.dəˈlɪə(ɹ)/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “chandler” - see the side-by-side comparison. chandelier vs chandler
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English 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