equalize

/ˈiːkwəlaɪz/

//ˈiːkwəlaɪz// verb

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

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

The verdict

“equalize” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #48,728 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#48,728
frequency rank, English
8
letters
10
tracked misspellings
3
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To make equal; to cause to correspond in amount or degree.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

equalize vs equalizer
89% similar
equalize vs equality
75% similar
equalize vs equaliser
78% similar

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

Key facts for equalize
PropertyValue
Headwordequalize
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ˈiːkwəlaɪz/
Letters8
Frequency rank#48,728
Misspellings tracked10
Confusable pairs3
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “equalize” 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). equalize 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 equalize is 8 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈiːkwəlaɪz/. Corpus data places it at rank #48,728 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 6 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 10 likely wrong-spelling variants for equalize, with forms such as "eqaulize", "eqqualize", and "equailze". 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 3 confusable-pair relationships, "equalizer", "equality", "equaliser", a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: From equal + -ize. The correct English form is equalize, spelled E-Q-U-A-L-I-Z-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To make equal; to cause to correspond in amount or degree.
  2. 2
    To be equal to; to equal, to rival.
  3. 3
    To make the scoreline equal by scoring points.
  4. 4
    To clear the ears to balance the pressure in the middle ear with the outside pressure by letting air enter along the Eustachian tubes.
  5. 5
    to precompose with each of a parallel pair of morphisms so as to yield the same composite morphism.
  6. 6
    To adjust the balance between frequency components within an electronic signal.

Etymology

From equal + -ize.

Synonyms

even out

This word in other languages

igualar(Español)égaliser(Français)ausgleichen(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: eqaulize,eqqualize,equailze,equaliez,equalizze,equallize,equalzie,equlaize,euqalize,qeualize

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of equalize - 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.

eqaulize2eqqualize1equailze2equaliez2equalizze1equallize1equalzie2equlaize2
Edit distance from "equalize"

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 "equalize"?
"equalize" is spelled E-Q-U-A-L-I-Z-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈiːkwəlaɪz/.
What does "equalize" mean?
As a verb, "equalize" means: To make equal; to cause to correspond in amount or degree.
What words are commonly confused with "equalize"?
"equalize" is commonly confused with "equalizer", "equality", "equaliser". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "equalize"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "equalize" is /ˈiːkwəlaɪz/. 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 "equalize"?
From equal + -ize. 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 “equalize”

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

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