elide

/ɪˈlaɪd/

//ɪˈlaɪd// verb

"elide" is a 5-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“elide” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a verb. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
5
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - To leave out or omit (something).

Corpus desk

Index EN-elide · elide · English

elide · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
  • LEN-MID 5 letters
  • VOW-3 3 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-THIN "E" thin
  • PHOTO-UNK Peer pending

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Key facts for elide
PropertyValue
Headwordelide
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ɪˈlaɪd/
Letters5
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “elide” in English

elidefalls 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.

Rare enough to double-check

elide is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as averb, transcribed /ɪˈlaɪd/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 3 senses are on record.

No misspelling variants are generated for elide in our index, since its letter sequence doesn't invite the usual edit-distance slips. 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: From Latin ēlīdō (“I strike out”). The correct English form is elide, spelled E-L-I-D-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To leave out or omit (something).
  2. 2
    To cut off, as a vowel or a syllable.
  3. 3
    To conflate; to smear together; to blur the distinction between.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how elide appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. Graham Hough's apparently objective assertion that 'Ozymandias' is 'extremely clear and direct', for example, elides the question of 'to whom?'.
  2. As Ms Shafak summarises, “the state is privileged, all-powerful and yet paradoxically safeguarded as if it were a fragile entity in need of protection.” Between it and its citizens a gulf looms; conversely, officials elide its interests with their own.

Etymology

From Latin ēlīdō (“I strike out”).

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 "elide"?
"elide" is spelled E-L-I-D-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ɪˈlaɪd/.
What does "elide" mean?
As a verb, "elide" means: To leave out or omit (something).
How do you pronounce "elide"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "elide" is /ɪˈlaɪd/. 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 "elide"?
From Latin ēlīdō (“I strike out”). 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.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list