collocate

/ˈkɒləkeɪt/

//ˈkɒləkeɪt// verb

"collocate" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“collocate” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a verb - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
9
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - (said of certain words) To be often used together, form a collocation; for example strong collocates with tea.

Key facts for collocate
PropertyValue
Headwordcollocate
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ˈkɒləkeɪt/
Letters9
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “collocate” sits in English frequency

collocate falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for collocate is 9 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈkɒləkeɪt/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

collocate doesn't appear in our generated misspelling index, a straightforward case of a spelling with little room for common typos. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from Latin collocatum, supine of collocō. Doublet of couch. The correct English form is collocate, spelled C-O-L-L-O-C-A-T-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    (said of certain words) To be often used together, form a collocation; for example strong collocates with tea.
  2. 2
    To arrange or occur side by side.
  3. 3
    To set or place or station in the same place as something else.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin collocatum, supine of collocō. Doublet of couch.

This word in other languages

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "collocate"?
"collocate" is spelled C-O-L-L-O-C-A-T-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈkɒləkeɪt/.
What does "collocate" mean?
As a verb, "collocate" means: (said of certain words) To be often used together, form a collocation; for example strong collocates with tea.
How do you pronounce "collocate"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "collocate" is /ˈkɒləkeɪt/. 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 "collocate"?
Borrowed from Latin collocatum, supine of collocō. Doublet of couch. 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 “collocate”

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

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