edgewise

/ˈɛdʒwaɪz/

//ˈɛdʒwaɪz// adv

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

"edgewise" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“edgewise” is uncommon English (frequency #88,299 among 18,836 “E” headwords), classed as an adverb. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#88,299
frequency rank, English
18,836
“E” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Edgeways.

Key facts for edgewise
PropertyValue
Headwordedgewise
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdverb
IPA/ˈɛdʒwaɪz/
Letters8
Frequency rank#88,299
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “edgewise” 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). edgewise lands here:

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

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

Rare enough to double-check

edgewise is uncommon English at frequency #88,299 among 18,836 “E” headwords, classed as anadverb, transcribed /ˈɛdʒwaɪz/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 2 senses are on record.

We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for edgewise, since its letter pattern doesn't lend itself to common typo substitutions. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, a sign it's visually distinctive enough not to be mixed up with another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: From edge + -wise. Compare English edgeling (“edgeways”) and edgelong. The correct English form is edgewise, spelled E-D-G-E-W-I-S-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    Edgeways.
  2. 2
    As if by an edge.

Etymology

From edge + -wise. Compare English edgeling (“edgeways”) and edgelong.

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 "edgewise"?
"edgewise" is spelled E-D-G-E-W-I-S-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈɛdʒwaɪz/.
What does "edgewise" mean?
As an adverb, "edgewise" means: Edgeways.
How do you pronounce "edgewise"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "edgewise" is /ˈɛdʒwaɪz/. 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 "edgewise"?
From edge + -wise. Compare English edgeling (“edgeways”) and edgelong. 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 “edgewise”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is E-D-G-E-W-I-S-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈɛdʒwaɪz/ (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

Other uncommon English words near this rank

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