gaslight
gas·light/ˈɡæsˌlaɪt/noun, verb
gaslight is spelled G-A-S-L-I-G-H-T: 8 letters and 2 syllables (gas·light). It appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 45,363rd most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, gaslight means “A lamp which operates by burning piped illuminating gas (or town gas)” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of gaslight is gaslights.
How many letters and syllables are in gaslight?
| Letters | 8: G-A-S-L-I-G-H-T |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: gas·light |
| In writing | about once in every 2 million words; the 45,363rd 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 gaslight?
Gaslight appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 45,363rd 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).
How do you pronounce gaslight?
- UK /ˈɡæslaɪt/
- US /ˈɡæsˌlaɪt/
Gaslight has 2 syllables, split gas·light in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-I_learned_some_phrases-gaslight.wav, En-us-gaslight.mp3, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Words people confuse with gaslight
Also written: gas-light (one word or two).
Sources: English Wiktionary (homophones, alternative spellings).
Forms of gaslight
- gaslights plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- gas light
- gas-light
- gaslighting participle, present
- gaslighted participle, past
- gaslit participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does gaslight mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
A lamp which operates by burning piped illuminating gas (or town gas).
- 2
The light produced by the burning gas in such a lamp.
verb
- 1
To manipulate someone such that they doubt their own memory, perceptions of reality, or sanity, typically for malevolent reasons.
Sylvia is a beautiful woman whose business-partner husband is "gaslighting" her. (That means he's trying to drive her crazy.)
- 2
informalproscribedTo deceive, trick, or lie to.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Gaslight in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | bec de gaz , manipuler, gaslighter, gaslight |
| German | Gaslampe , mit Psychotricks langsam irre machen , Gaslicht |
| Portuguese | lâmpada a gás, lampião , abusar , luz/iluminação a gás |
| Spanish | lámpara a gas , embocar, huevear, huevonear , luz a gas, luz gaseiforme |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does gaslight come from?
From gas (“flammable gaseous hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon mixture used as a fuel”) + light.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).