hot spot

/ˈhɒtˌspɒt/

//ˈhɒtˌspɒt// noun

"hot-spot" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“hot spot” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
8
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - A location which has a higher temperature or amount of radiation than surrounding areas.

Corpus desk

Index EN-hot-spot · hot spot · English

hot spot · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
  • LEN-LONG 8 letters
  • VOW-2 2 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-THIN "H" thin
  • PHOTO-UNK Peer pending

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Key facts for hot spot
PropertyValue
Headwordhot spot
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈhɒtˌspɒt/
Letters8
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “hot spot” in English

hot spotfalls 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.

Rare enough to double-check

hot spot is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈhɒtˌspɒt/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 14 senses are on record.

No generated misspelling entries exist for hot spot in our index, since its letter sequence doesn't invite the usual edit-distance slips. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, a sign it's visually distinctive enough not to be mixed up with another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: From hot + spot. The correct English form is hot spot, spelled H-O-T- -S-P-O-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    A location which has a higher temperature or amount of radiation than surrounding areas.
  2. 2
    A location which has a higher temperature or amount of radiation than surrounding areas.
  3. 3
    A location which has a higher temperature or amount of radiation than surrounding areas.
  4. 4
    A location which has a higher temperature or amount of radiation than surrounding areas.
  5. 5
    A location which has a higher temperature or amount of radiation than surrounding areas.
  6. 6
    A location which has a higher temperature or amount of radiation than surrounding areas.
  7. 7
    A place notable for a high level of activity or danger.
  8. 8
    A place notable for a high level of activity or danger.
  9. 9
    A place notable for a high level of activity or danger.
  10. 10
    A place notable for a high level of activity or danger.
  11. 11
    A place notable for a high level of activity or danger.
  12. 12
    A place notable for a high level of activity or danger.
  13. 13
    A place notable for a high level of activity or danger.
  14. 14
    A place notable for a high level of activity or danger.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how hot spot appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. [Y]our microwave may have an area in which more energy is concentrated. To test for a hot spot, place sliced white bread across the bottom of your microwave, so that the slices are touching, forming a solid layer.
  2. While researchers can see the path that Yellowstone burned as the hot spot migrated from Oregon across Idaho and into Wyoming, discerning one eruption from another has been a chore as most volcanic deposits are scattered across vast landscapes in a chaotic jumble.

Etymology

From hot + spot.

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 "hot spot"?
"hot spot" is spelled H-O-T- -S-P-O-T. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈhɒtˌspɒt/.
What does "hot spot" mean?
As a noun, "hot spot" means: A location which has a higher temperature or amount of radiation than surrounding areas.
How do you pronounce "hot spot"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "hot spot" is /ˈhɒtˌspɒt/. 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 "hot spot"?
From hot + spot. 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.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list