imply

/ɪmˈplaɪ/

//ɪmˈplaɪ// verb

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

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

The verdict

“imply” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #9,191 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#9,191
frequency rank, English
5
letters
8
tracked misspellings
4
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To have as a necessary consequence; to lead to (something) as a consequence.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

imply vs IPL
0% similar
imply vs Italy
40% similar
imply vs idly
60% similar

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

Key facts for imply
PropertyValue
Headwordimply
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ɪmˈplaɪ/
Letters5
Frequency rank#9,191
Misspellings tracked8
Confusable pairs4
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “imply” 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). imply 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 imply is 5 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɪmˈplaɪ/. Corpus data places it at rank #9,191 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 4 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 8 likely wrong-spelling variants for imply, with forms such as "imlpy", "immply", and "implly". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 4 confusable-pair relationships, "IPL", "Italy", "idly", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English implien, emplien, borrowed from Old French emplier, from Latin implicare (“to infold, involve”), from in (“in”) + plicare (“to fold”). Doublet of employ and implicate. The correct English form is imply, spelled I-M-P-L-Y.

Definition

  1. 1
    To have as a necessary consequence; to lead to (something) as a consequence.
  2. 2
    To suggest by logical inference.
  3. 3
    To hint; to insinuate; to suggest tacitly and avoid a direct statement.
  4. 4
    To enfold, entangle.

Etymology

From Middle English implien, emplien, borrowed from Old French emplier, from Latin implicare (“to infold, involve”), from in (“in”) + plicare (“to fold”). Doublet of employ and implicate.

This word in other languages

implicar(Español)impliquer(Français)implizieren(Deutsch)implicar(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: imlpy,immply,implly,implyy,impply,impyl,ipmly,miply

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

imlpy2immply1implly1implyy1impply1impyl2ipmly2miply2
Edit distance from "imply"

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 "imply"?
"imply" is spelled I-M-P-L-Y. The IPA pronunciation is /ɪmˈplaɪ/.
What does "imply" mean?
As a verb, "imply" means: To have as a necessary consequence; to lead to (something) as a consequence.
What words are commonly confused with "imply"?
"imply" is commonly confused with "IPL", "Italy", "idly". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "imply"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "imply" is /ɪmˈplaɪ/. 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 "imply"?
From Middle English implien, emplien, borrowed from Old French emplier, from Latin implicare (“to infold, involve”), from in (“in”) + plicare (“to fold”). Doublet of employ and implicate. 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 “imply”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is I-M-P-L-Y - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ɪmˈplaɪ/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “IPL” - see the side-by-side comparison. imply vs IPL
  • 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