elucidate

/ɪˈl(j)uːsɪdeɪt/

//ɪˈl(j)uːsɪdeɪt// verb

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

"elucidate" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“elucidate” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #41,609 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#41,609
frequency rank, English
9
letters
12
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To make (something) lucid (“bright, luminous; also, clear, transparent”).

Key facts for elucidate
PropertyValue
Headwordelucidate
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ɪˈl(j)uːsɪdeɪt/
Letters9
Frequency rank#41,609
Misspellings tracked12
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “elucidate” 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). elucidate 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 elucidate is 9 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɪˈl(j)uːsɪdeɪt/. Corpus data places it at rank #41,609 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 2 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 12 likely wrong-spelling variants for elucidate, with forms such as "elcuidate", "ellucidate", and "eluccidate". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Late Latin ēlūcidātus, perfect passive participle of ēlūcidō (“to lighten, enlighten”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from ē(x)- (“out, from”) + lūcidus (“bright, clear, understandable”) + -ō (first conjugation verb-forming suffix), literally “to ma… The correct English form is elucidate, spelled E-L-U-C-I-D-A-T-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To make (something) lucid (“bright, luminous; also, clear, transparent”).
  2. 2
    To make (something) clear and understandable; to clarify, to illuminate, to shed light on.

Etymology

From Late Latin ēlūcidātus, perfect passive participle of ēlūcidō (“to lighten, enlighten”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from ē(x)- (“out, from”) + lūcidus (“bright, clear, understandable”) + -ō (first conjugation verb-forming suffix), literally “to make light of (something)”, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *lewk- (“bright; to see; to shine”). Compare French élucider.

This word in other languages

elucidar(Español)élucider(Français)erklären(Deutsch)elucidar(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: elcuidate,ellucidate,eluccidate,elucdiate,eluciadte,elucidaet,elucidatte,eluciddate,elucidtae,eluicdate,eulcidate,leucidate

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of elucidate - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

elcuidate2ellucidate1eluccidate1elucdiate2eluciadte2elucidaet2elucidatte1eluciddate1
Edit distance from "elucidate"

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 "elucidate"?
"elucidate" is spelled E-L-U-C-I-D-A-T-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ɪˈl(j)uːsɪdeɪt/.
What does "elucidate" mean?
As a verb, "elucidate" means: To make (something) lucid (“bright, luminous; also, clear, transparent”).
What are common misspellings of "elucidate"?
Common misspellings include "elcuidate", "ellucidate", "eluccidate", "elucdiate", "eluciadte". The correct spelling is "elucidate".
How do you pronounce "elucidate"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "elucidate" is /ɪˈl(j)uːsɪdeɪt/. 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 "elucidate"?
From Late Latin ēlūcidātus, perfect passive participle of ēlūcidō (“to lighten, enlighten”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from ē(x)- (“out, from”) + lūcidus (“bright, clear, understandable”) + -ō (first conjugation verb-forming suffix), litera... 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 “elucidate”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is E-L-U-C-I-D-A-T-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ɪˈl(j)uːsɪdeɪt/ (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
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