estimate

/ˈɛs.tɪ.mət/

//ˈɛs.tɪ.mət// noun

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

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

The verdict

“estimate” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #4,373 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#4,373
frequency rank, English
8
letters
11
tracked misspellings
4
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A rough calculation or assessment of the value, size, or cost of something.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

estimate vs estimated
89% similar
estimate vs estimates
89% similar
estimate vs estimator
78% similar

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

Key facts for estimate
PropertyValue
Headwordestimate
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈɛs.tɪ.mət/
Letters8
Frequency rank#4,373
Misspellings tracked11
Confusable pairs4
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “estimate” 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). estimate 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 estimate is 8 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈɛs.tɪ.mət/. Corpus data places it at rank #4,373 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 11 likely wrong-spelling variants for estimate, with forms such as "esitmate", "esstimate", and "estiamte". 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 4 confusable-pair relationships, "estimated", "estimates", "estimator", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English estimat, borrowed from Latin aestimātus (“valuing, estimate”, only used in the ablative singular: "aestimātū..." (in valuing...)), from aestimō + -tus (“action noun-forming suffix”). The correct English form is estimate, spelled E-S-T-I-M-A-T-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    A rough calculation or assessment of the value, size, or cost of something.
  2. 2
    A rough calculation or assessment of the value, size, or cost of something.
  3. 3
    An upper limitation on some positive quantity.

Etymology

From Middle English estimat, borrowed from Latin aestimātus (“valuing, estimate”, only used in the ablative singular: "aestimātū..." (in valuing...)), from aestimō + -tus (“action noun-forming suffix”).

This word in other languages

presupuesto(Español)estimation(Français)Schätzung(Deutsch)estimativa(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: esitmate,esstimate,estiamte,estimaet,estimatte,estimmate,estimtae,estmiate,esttimate,etsimate,setimate

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

esitmate2esstimate1estiamte2estimaet2estimatte1estimmate1estimtae2estmiate2
Edit distance from "estimate"

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 "estimate"?
"estimate" is spelled E-S-T-I-M-A-T-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈɛs.tɪ.mət/.
What does "estimate" mean?
As a noun, "estimate" means: A rough calculation or assessment of the value, size, or cost of something.
What words are commonly confused with "estimate"?
"estimate" is commonly confused with "estimated", "estimates", "estimator". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "estimate"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "estimate" is /ˈɛs.tɪ.mət/. 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 "estimate"?
From Middle English estimat, borrowed from Latin aestimātus (“valuing, estimate”, only used in the ablative singular: "aestimātū..." (in valuing...)), from aestimō + -tus (“action noun-forming suffix”). 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 “estimate”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is E-S-T-I-M-A-T-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈɛs.tɪ.mət/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “estimated” - see the side-by-side comparison. estimate vs estimated
  • 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