elevator

/ˈɛləˌveɪtə/

//ˈɛləˌveɪtə// noun

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

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

The verdict

“elevator” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #7,683 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#7,683
frequency rank, English
8
letters
11
tracked misspellings
5
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Anything that raises or uplifts.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

elevator vs Eleanor
63% similar
elevator vs elevate
75% similar
elevator vs elector
75% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for elevator
PropertyValue
Headwordelevator
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈɛləˌveɪtə/
Letters8
Frequency rank#7,683
Misspellings tracked11
Confusable pairs5
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “elevator” 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). elevator 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 elevator is 8 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈɛləˌveɪtə/. Corpus data places it at rank #7,683 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 7 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 11 likely wrong-spelling variants for elevator, with forms such as "eelvator", "eleavtor", and "elevaotr". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 5 confusable-pair relationships, "Eleanor", "elevate", "elector", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: From elevate + -or. The correct English form is elevator, spelled E-L-E-V-A-T-O-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    Anything that raises or uplifts.
  2. 2
    A permanent construction with a built-in platform or cab that can be raised and lowered, used to transport people and goods, as between different floors of a building.
  3. 3
    A silo used for storing wheat, corn or other grain (grain elevator).
  4. 4
    A control surface of an aircraft responsible for controlling the pitching motion of the machine.
  5. 5
    A dental instrument used to pry up ("elevate") teeth in difficult extractions, or depressed portions of bone.
  6. 6
    Any muscle that serves to raise a part of the body, such as the leg or the eye.
  7. 7
    A type of shoe having an insert lift to make the wearer appear taller.

Etymology

From elevate + -or.

This word in other languages

Höhenruder(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: eelvator,eleavtor,elevaotr,elevatorr,elevatro,elevattor,elevtaor,elevvator,ellevator,elveator,leevator

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

eelvator2eleavtor2elevaotr2elevatorr1elevatro2elevattor1elevtaor2elevvator1
Edit distance from "elevator"

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 "elevator"?
"elevator" is spelled E-L-E-V-A-T-O-R. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈɛləˌveɪtə/.
What does "elevator" mean?
As a noun, "elevator" means: Anything that raises or uplifts.
What words are commonly confused with "elevator"?
"elevator" is commonly confused with "Eleanor", "elevate", "elector". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "elevator"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "elevator" is /ˈɛləˌveɪtə/. 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 "elevator"?
From elevate + -or. 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 “elevator”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is E-L-E-V-A-T-O-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈɛləˌveɪtə/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “Eleanor” - see the side-by-side comparison. elevator vs Eleanor
  • 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