# elect

> English word · Noun · IPA /ɪˈlɛkt/ · frequency rank #6,782

## Definitions
1. One chosen or set apart.
2. In Calvinist theology, one foreordained to Heaven. In other Christian theologies, someone chosen by God for salvation.

## Etymology
Borrowed from Latin ēlēctus, past participle of ēligō (“to pick out, choose, elect”), from ē- (“out”) + legō (“to pick out, pick, gather, collect, etc.”); see legend.
Cognate to eclectic, which is via Ancient Greek rather than Latin, hence prefix ἐκ (ek), rather than e- (from ex).

## Easily confused with
- **exec** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elect-vs-exec)
- **event** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elect-vs-event)
- **exact** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elect-vs-exact)
- **Elena** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elect-vs-elena)
- **erect** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elect-vs-erect)
- **enact** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elect-vs-enact)
- **exert** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elect-vs-exert)
- **evict** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elect-vs-evict)
- **elegy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elect-vs-elegy)
- **expect** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elect-vs-expect)
- **elicit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elect-vs-elicit)
- **elected** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elect-vs-elected)
- **elector** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elect-vs-elector)
- **Electra** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elect-vs-electra)
- **ECT** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ect-vs-elect)
- **ele** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ele-vs-elect)
- **EEC** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/eec-vs-elect)
- **edict** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/edict-vs-elect)
- **eject** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/eject-vs-elect)
- **Ebert** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ebert-vs-elect)

## Common misspellings (7)
`eelct`, `elcet`, `elecct`, `electt`, `eletc`, `ellect`, `leect`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/elect