gainsaying
noun, verb
gainsaying is spelled G-A-I-N-S-A-Y-I-N-G: 10 letters. It appears about once in every 68 million words in written English, the 258,950th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, gainsaying means “Opposition, especially in speech” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of gainsaying is gainsayings.
How many letters and syllables are in gainsaying?
| Letters | 10: G-A-I-N-S-A-Y-I-N-G |
|---|---|
| In writing | about once in every 68 million words; the 258,950th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is gainsaying?
Gainsaying appears about once in every 68 million words in written English, the 258,950th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
Forms of gainsaying
- gainsayings plural
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does gainsaying mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
Opposition, especially in speech.
- 2
Refusal to accept or believe something.
- 3
Contradiction.
- 4
Denial; denying.
But there was no gainsaying the wisdom of the advice which he had given me as to concealing the treasure.
- 5
archaicobsoleteRebellious opposition; rebellion.
verb
- 1
present participle and gerund of gainsay
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Where does gainsaying come from?
From Middle English gaynesayenge, ȝeinseiing, ȝeinsegging, equivalent to gainsay + -ing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).