clipping
clip·ping/ˈklɪpɪŋ/noun, verb
clipping is spelled C-L-I-P-P-I-N-G: 8 letters and 2 syllables (clip·ping). It appears 1.5 times per million words in written English, the 22,651st most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, clipping means “The act by which something is clipped (in any sense)” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of clipping is clippings.
How many letters and syllables are in clipping?
| Letters | 8: C-L-I-P-P-I-N-G |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: clip·ping |
| In writing | 1.5 times per million words; the 22,651st most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is clipping?
Clipping appears 1.5 times per million words in written English, the 22,651st most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce clipping?
- /ˈklɪpɪŋ/
Clipping has 2 syllables, split clip·ping in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-clipping.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of clipping
- clippings plural
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does clipping mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
The act by which something is clipped (in any sense).
- 2
A piece of something removed by clipping.
a clipping of hair
- 3
An article clipped from a newspaper (especially) or from a magazine.
- 4
A process of word formation involving shortening by removal of syllables, often terminal ones.
- 5
A short form (of a longer word) created by removing syllables, often terminal ones.
The word "ad" is a clipping of "advertisement".
- 6
The process of cutting off a signal level that rises above a certain maximum level.
- 7
The use of a mask to hide part of an object or image.
- 8
Falling, rolling, or throwing one's body on the back of an opponent's legs after approaching from behind.
verb
- 1
present participle and gerund of clip
adjective
- 1
UKobsoleteslangExcellent; very good.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Clipping in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| German | schneidend, abschneidend, beschneidend , Schnipsel, Abschnitt, Schnitt |
| Portuguese | cortado, recortado , clipagem, recorte , encurtamento |
| Spanish | recorte , acortamiento |
| French | troncation, apocope |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does clipping come from?
By surface analysis, clip + -ing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).