grid

/ɡɹɪd/

//ɡɹɪd// noun

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

"grid" is a 4-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“grid” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #5,330 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#5,330
frequency rank, English
4
letters
6
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A rectangular array of squares or rectangles of equal size, such as in a crossword puzzle.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

grid vs GUI
0% similar
grid vs GRU
0% similar
grid vs gro
50% similar

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

Key facts for grid
PropertyValue
Headwordgrid
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ɡɹɪd/
Letters4
Frequency rank#5,330
Misspellings tracked6
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “grid” 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). grid 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 grid is 4 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɡɹɪd/. Corpus data places it at rank #5,330 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 10 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 6 likely wrong-spelling variants for grid, with forms such as "ggrid", "gird", and "grdi". 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. It also participates in 20 confusable-pair relationships, "GUI", "GRU", "gro", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: Back-formation or clipping of griddle or gridiron. The correct English form is grid, spelled G-R-I-D.

Definition

  1. 1
    A rectangular array of squares or rectangles of equal size, such as in a crossword puzzle.
  2. 2
    A tiling of the plane with regular polygons; a honeycomb.
  3. 3
    A system for delivery of electricity, consisting of various substations, transformers and generators, connected by wire.
  4. 4
    A system or structure of distributed computers working mostly on a peer-to-peer basis, used mainly to solve single and complex scientific or technical problems or to process data at high speeds (as in clusters).
  5. 5
    A method of marking off maps into areas.
  6. 6
    The pattern of starting positions of the drivers for a race.
  7. 7
    The third (or higher) electrode of a vacuum tube (triode or higher).
  8. 8
    A battery-plate somewhat like a grating, especially a zinc plate in a primary battery, or a lead plate in a secondary or storage battery.
  9. 9
    A grating of parallel bars; a gridiron.
  10. 10
    An openwork ceiling above the stage or studio, used for affixing lights etc.

Etymology

Back-formation or clipping of griddle or gridiron.

This word in other languages

cuadrícula(Español)grille(Français)Gitter(Deutsch)matriz(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ggrid,gird,grdi,gridd,grrid,rgid

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

ggrid1gird2grdi2gridd1grrid1rgid2
Edit distance from "grid"

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 "grid"?
"grid" is spelled G-R-I-D. The IPA pronunciation is /ɡɹɪd/.
What does "grid" mean?
As a noun, "grid" means: A rectangular array of squares or rectangles of equal size, such as in a crossword puzzle.
What words are commonly confused with "grid"?
"grid" is commonly confused with "GUI", "GRU", "gro". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "grid"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "grid" is /ɡɹɪd/. 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 "grid"?
Back-formation or clipping of griddle or gridiron. 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 “grid”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is G-R-I-D - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ɡɹɪd/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “GUI” - see the side-by-side comparison. grid vs GUI
  • 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