glair

/ɡlɛə(ɹ)/

//ɡlɛə(ɹ)// noun

"glair" is a 5-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“glair” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a noun - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
5
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Egg white, especially as used in various industrial preparations.

Key facts for glair
PropertyValue
Headwordglair
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ɡlɛə(ɹ)/
Letters5
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “glair” sits in English frequency

glair falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for glair is 5 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɡlɛə(ɹ)/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Zero misspellings are on record for glair in our index, a sign its spelling follows regular English conventions. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, which tends to mean the word is visually distinctive enough to stand on its own.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English glaire, from Old French glaire, from Vulgar Latin *clāria, a substantive use of Latin clārus (“clear”). The correct English form is glair, spelled G-L-A-I-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    Egg white, especially as used in various industrial preparations.
  2. 2
    Any viscous, slimy substance.
  3. 3
    A broadsword fixed on a pike; a kind of halberd.

Etymology

From Middle English glaire, from Old French glaire, from Vulgar Latin *clāria, a substantive use of Latin clārus (“clear”).

This word in other languages

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "glair"?
"glair" is spelled G-L-A-I-R. The IPA pronunciation is /ɡlɛə(ɹ)/.
What does "glair" mean?
As a noun, "glair" means: Egg white, especially as used in various industrial preparations.
How do you pronounce "glair"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "glair" is /ɡlɛə(ɹ)/. 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 "glair"?
From Middle English glaire, from Old French glaire, from Vulgar Latin *clāria, a substantive use of Latin clārus (“clear”). 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 “glair”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is G-L-A-I-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ɡlɛə(ɹ)/ (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