dipstick
/ˈdɪpstɪk/noun, verb
dipstick is spelled D-I-P-S-T-I-C-K: 8 letters and 2 syllables. It appears about once in every 5 million words in written English, the 69,884th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, dipstick means “A stick or rod used to measure the depth of a liquid. Often used to check the level at which a liquid in an opaque or inaccessible tank or reservoir…” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of dipstick is dipsticks.
How many letters and syllables are in dipstick?
| Letters | 8: D-I-P-S-T-I-C-K |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 5 million words; the 69,884th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is dipstick?
Dipstick appears about once in every 5 million words in written English, the 69,884th 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 dipstick?
- /ˈdɪpstɪk/
Dipstick has 2 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-au-dipstick.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Words people confuse with dipstick
Also written: dip-stick (one word or two).
Sources: English Wiktionary (homophones, alternative spellings).
Forms of dipstick
- dipsticks plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- dip-stick
- dipsticking participle, present
- dipsticked participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does dipstick mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
A stick or rod used to measure the depth of a liquid. Often used to check the level at which a liquid in an opaque or inaccessible tank or reservoir stands; gauge.
I haven't checked the oil level of my car's motor since I lost the dipstick three months ago.
- 2
derogatoryobsoleteAn exciseman or supervisor who measures with a dipstick.
- 3
slangThe penis.
- 4
derogatoryslangA useless person of inferior intellect; a dipshit.
That referee is a right dipstick.
verb
- 1
To check (a person) for their understanding of something, as of a lesson, or attitude toward something.
- 2
To measure the level of a fluid using a dipstick.
If one of the fuel gauges is inoperative (flight is not permitted if both have failed), the tanks have to be dipsticked before and after each fueling to confirm the aircraft's fuel status.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Dipstick in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | jauge |
| Spanish | varilla, bayoneta |
| German | Vollpfosten |
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 dipstick come from?
From dip + stick.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).