elixir

/ɪˈlɪksə(ɹ)/

//ɪˈlɪksə(ɹ)// noun

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

"elixir" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“elixir” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #23,522 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#23,522
frequency rank, English
6
letters
8
tracked misspellings
1
confusable pair

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A liquid which converts lead to gold.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

elixir vs elicit
67% similar

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

Key facts for elixir
PropertyValue
Headwordelixir
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ɪˈlɪksə(ɹ)/
Letters6
Frequency rank#23,522
Misspellings tracked8
Confusable pairs1
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “elixir” 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). elixir 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 elixir is 6 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɪˈlɪksə(ɹ)/. Corpus data places it at rank #23,522 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 4 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 8 likely wrong-spelling variants for elixir, with forms such as "eilxir", "eliixr", and "elixirr". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 1 confusable-pair relationship, "elicit", where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Medieval Latin elixir (“philosopher's stone”), from Arabic اَلْإِكْسِير (al-ʔiksīr, “philosopher's stone”), from Ancient Greek ξηρίον (xēríon, “powder for drying wounds”), from ξηρός (xērós, “dry”). The correct English form is elixir, spelled E-L-I-X-I-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    A liquid which converts lead to gold.
  2. 2
    A substance or liquid which is believed to cure all ills and give eternal life.
  3. 3
    The alleged cure for all ailments; cure-all, panacea.
  4. 4
    A sweet flavored liquid (usually containing a small amount of alcohol) used in compounding medicines to be taken by mouth in order to mask an unpleasant taste.

Etymology

From Medieval Latin elixir (“philosopher's stone”), from Arabic اَلْإِكْسِير (al-ʔiksīr, “philosopher's stone”), from Ancient Greek ξηρίον (xēríon, “powder for drying wounds”), from ξηρός (xērós, “dry”).

This word in other languages

elixir(Español)élixir(Français)Elixier(Deutsch)elixir(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: eilxir,eliixr,elixirr,elixri,elixxir,ellixir,elxiir,leixir

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

eilxir2eliixr2elixirr1elixri2elixxir1ellixir1elxiir2leixir2
Edit distance from "elixir"

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 "elixir"?
"elixir" is spelled E-L-I-X-I-R. The IPA pronunciation is /ɪˈlɪksə(ɹ)/.
What does "elixir" mean?
As a noun, "elixir" means: A liquid which converts lead to gold.
What words are commonly confused with "elixir"?
"elixir" is commonly confused with "elicit". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "elixir"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "elixir" is /ɪˈlɪksə(ɹ)/. 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 "elixir"?
From Medieval Latin elixir (“philosopher's stone”), from Arabic اَلْإِكْسِير (al-ʔiksīr, “philosopher's stone”), from Ancient Greek ξηρίον (xēríon, “powder for drying wounds”), from ξηρός (xērós, “dry”). 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 “elixir”

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

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