collateral

/kəˈlætəɹəl/

//kəˈlætəɹəl// adj

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

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

The verdict

“collateral” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #11,853 in English word frequency and used as an adjective.

#11,853
frequency rank, English
10
letters
13
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Parallel, in the same vein, side by side.

Key facts for collateral
PropertyValue
Headwordcollateral
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/kəˈlætəɹəl/
Letters10
Frequency rank#11,853
Misspellings tracked13
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “collateral” 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). collateral 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 collateral is 10 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /kəˈlætəɹəl/. Corpus data places it at rank #11,853 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 9 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 13 likely wrong-spelling variants for collateral, with forms such as "ccollateral", "clolateral", and "colalteral". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It is not paired with a close-neighbour confusable in our dataset, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: Recorded since c.1378, from Old French, from Medieval Latin collaterālis, from Latin col- (“together with”) (a form of con-) + the stem of latus (“side”). By surface analysis, col- + lateral. The correct English form is collateral, spelled C-O-L-L-A-T-E-R-A-L.

Definition

  1. 1
    Parallel, in the same vein, side by side.
  2. 2
    Corresponding; accompanying, concomitant.
  3. 3
    Being aside from the main subject, target, or goal.
  4. 4
    Of an indirect ancestral relationship, as opposed to lineal descendency.
  5. 5
    Relating to a collateral in the sense of an obligation or security.
  6. 6
    Expensive to the extent of being paid through a loan.
  7. 7
    Coming or directed along the side.
  8. 8
    Acting in an indirect way.
  9. 9
    Having the phloem and xylem adjacent.

Etymology

Recorded since c.1378, from Old French, from Medieval Latin collaterālis, from Latin col- (“together with”) (a form of con-) + the stem of latus (“side”). By surface analysis, col- + lateral.

This word in other languages

collatéral(Français)benachbart(Deutsch)colateral(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ccollateral,clolateral,colalteral,colateral,collaetral,collatearl,collaterall,collaterla,collaterral,collatreal,collatteral,colltaeral,ocllateral

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of collateral - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

ccollateral1clolateral2colalteral2colateral1collaetral2collatearl2collaterall1collaterla2
Edit distance from "collateral"

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 "collateral"?
"collateral" is spelled C-O-L-L-A-T-E-R-A-L. The IPA pronunciation is /kəˈlætəɹəl/.
What does "collateral" mean?
As an adjective, "collateral" means: Parallel, in the same vein, side by side.
What are common misspellings of "collateral"?
Common misspellings include "ccollateral", "clolateral", "colalteral", "colateral", "collaetral". The correct spelling is "collateral".
How do you pronounce "collateral"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "collateral" is /kəˈlætəɹəl/. 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 "collateral"?
Recorded since c.1378, from Old French, from Medieval Latin collaterālis, from Latin col- (“together with”) (a form of con-) + the stem of latus (“side”). By surface analysis, col- + lateral. 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 “collateral”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is C-O-L-L-A-T-E-R-A-L - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /kəˈlætəɹəl/ (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
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