in other words

prep_phrase

"in-other-words" is a 12-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“in other words” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a prep_phrase. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
14
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - Stated or interpreted another way; Used to introduce an explanation, simplification, or clarification.

Corpus desk

Index EN-in-other-words · in other words · English

in other words · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
  • LEN-MEGA 14 letters
  • VOW-4 4 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-THIN "I" 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 in other words
PropertyValue
Headwordin other words
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechPrep_phrase
Letters14
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “in other words” in English

in other wordsfalls 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

in other words is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as aprep_phrase. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. Gloss: "Stated or interpreted another way; Used to introduce an explanation, simplification, or clarification.".

We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for in other words, since its letter sequence doesn't invite the usual edit-distance slips. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, a sign it's visually distinctive enough not to be mixed up with another word.

This entry's etymology isn't recorded, so its spelling pattern is best understood through pronunciation rather than a traceable origin. The correct English form is in other words, spelled I-N- -O-T-H-E-R- -W-O-R-D-S.

Definition

  1. 1
    Stated or interpreted another way; Used to introduce an explanation, simplification, or clarification.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

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

  1. He has another appointment on Thursday. In other words, I don't think he'll be attending your gathering.
  2. On Tuesday evening he sent a message to the office of the Stamford paper, requesting that, as the "mountain could not wait upon Mahomet, Mahomet would go to the mountain,"—or, in other words, that the printer would call upon him, and receive an order for executing some hand-bills announcing Mr. Lambert's arrival, and his desire to see company.

Synonyms

to put it another wayput differentlythat is to sayi.e.

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 "in other words"?
"in other words" is spelled I-N- -O-T-H-E-R- -W-O-R-D-S.
What does "in other words" mean?
As a prep_phrase, "in other words" means: Stated or interpreted another way; Used to introduce an explanation, simplification, or clarification.
What language does "in other words" come from?
"in other words" is a English word. PlainSpell covers definitions, pronunciations, and spelling data across English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German.
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