# elusive

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ɪˈl(j)uː.sɪv/ · frequency rank #15,604

## Definitions
1. Evading capture, comprehension or remembrance.
2. Difficult to make precise.
3. Rarely seen.

## Etymology
From Latin elusus, past participle of eludo (“to parry a blow, to deceive”).

## Easily confused with
- **evasive** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elusive-vs-evasive)
- **exclusive** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elusive-vs-exclusive)
- **Elsie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elsie-vs-elusive)

## Common misspellings (9)
`ellusive`, `elsuive`, `eluisve`, `elusiev`, `elusivve`, `elussive`, `elusvie`, `eulsive`, `leusive`

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