equilibrium

/ɛkwɪˈlɪbɹɪəm/

//ɛkwɪˈlɪbɹɪəm// noun

"equilibrium" is a 11-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“equilibrium” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #12,967 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#12,967
frequency rank, English
11
letters
15
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The condition of a system in which competing influences are balanced, resulting in no net change.

Key facts for equilibrium
PropertyValue
Headwordequilibrium
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ɛkwɪˈlɪbɹɪəm/
Letters11
Frequency rank#12,967
Misspellings tracked15
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “equilibrium” 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). equilibrium 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 equilibrium is 11 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɛkwɪˈlɪbɹɪəm/. Corpus data places it at rank #12,967 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 15 likely wrong-spelling variants for equilibrium, with forms such as "eqiulibrium", "eqquilibrium", and "equiilbrium". 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. No close-neighbour confusable shows up for this headword in our dataset, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Latin aequilībrium, from equal + lībra (“balance”). The correct English form is equilibrium, spelled E-Q-U-I-L-I-B-R-I-U-M.

Definition

  1. 1
    The condition of a system in which competing influences are balanced, resulting in no net change.
  2. 2
    Mental balance.
  3. 3
    The state of a reaction in which the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are the same.
  4. 4
    The state of a body at rest or in uniform motion in which the resultant of all forces on it is zero.

Etymology

From Latin aequilībrium, from equal + lībra (“balance”).

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: eqiulibrium,eqquilibrium,equiilbrium,equilbirium,equilibbrium,equilibirum,equilibrimu,equilibriumm,equilibrrium,equilibruim,equilirbium,equillibrium,equliibrium,euqilibrium,qeuilibrium

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

eqiulibrium2eqquilibrium1equiilbrium2equilbirium2equilibbrium1equilibirum2equilibrimu2equilibriumm1
Edit distance from "equilibrium"

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 "equilibrium"?
"equilibrium" is spelled E-Q-U-I-L-I-B-R-I-U-M. The IPA pronunciation is /ɛkwɪˈlɪbɹɪəm/.
What does "equilibrium" mean?
As a noun, "equilibrium" means: The condition of a system in which competing influences are balanced, resulting in no net change.
What are common misspellings of "equilibrium"?
Common misspellings include "eqiulibrium", "eqquilibrium", "equiilbrium", "equilbirium", "equilibbrium". The correct spelling is "equilibrium".
How do you pronounce "equilibrium"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "equilibrium" is /ɛkwɪˈlɪbɹɪəm/. 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 "equilibrium"?
From Latin aequilībrium, from equal + lībra (“balance”). 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 “equilibrium”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is E-Q-U-I-L-I-B-R-I-U-M - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ɛkwɪˈlɪbɹɪəm/ (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