infiltrate

/ˈɪnfɪltɹeɪt/

//ˈɪnfɪltɹeɪt// verb

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

"infiltrate" is a 10-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“infiltrate” has 15 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #20,964. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#20,964
frequency rank, English
17,902
“I” headwords
15
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To surreptitiously penetrate, enter or gain access to.

Key facts for infiltrate
PropertyValue
Headwordinfiltrate
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ˈɪnfɪltɹeɪt/
Letters10
Frequency rank#20,964
Misspellings tracked15
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “infiltrate” 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). infiltrate lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 15 spelling variants around infiltrate (IPA /ˈɪnfɪltɹeɪt/), averb. Corpus frequency is #20,964 among 17,902 “I” headwords. Wiktionary lists 7 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 15 likely wrong-spelling variants for infiltrate, with forms such as "ifniltrate", "inffiltrate", and "infilltrate". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, which typically means the spelling is too distinctive to be mistaken for another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English infiltrate (adjective), from Medieval Latin infiltrātus, from infiltrō. The correct English form is infiltrate, spelled I-N-F-I-L-T-R-A-T-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To surreptitiously penetrate, enter or gain access to.
  2. 2
    To cause to penetrate in this way.
  3. 3
    To pass through something by filtration.
  4. 4
    To cause (a liquid) to pass through something by filtration.
  5. 5
    To invade or penetrate a tissue or organ.
  6. 6
    To send (soldiers, spies, etc.) through gaps in the enemy line.
  7. 7
    To move from a vein, remaining in the body.

Etymology

From Middle English infiltrate (adjective), from Medieval Latin infiltrātus, from infiltrō.

This word in other languages

infiltrer(Français)infiltrieren(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ifniltrate,inffiltrate,infilltrate,infilrtate,infiltarte,infiltraet,infiltratte,infiltrrate,infiltrtae,infilttrate,infitlrate,inflitrate,inifltrate,innfiltrate,nifiltrate

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

ifniltrate2inffiltrate1infilltrate1infilrtate2infiltarte2infiltraet2infiltratte1infiltrrate1
Edit distance from "infiltrate"

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 "infiltrate"?
"infiltrate" is spelled I-N-F-I-L-T-R-A-T-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈɪnfɪltɹeɪt/.
What does "infiltrate" mean?
As a verb, "infiltrate" means: To surreptitiously penetrate, enter or gain access to.
What are common misspellings of "infiltrate"?
Common misspellings include "ifniltrate", "inffiltrate", "infilltrate", "infilrtate", "infiltarte". The correct spelling is "infiltrate".
How do you pronounce "infiltrate"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "infiltrate" is /ˈɪnfɪltɹeɪt/. 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 "infiltrate"?
From Middle English infiltrate (adjective), from Medieval Latin infiltrātus, from infiltrō. 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 “infiltrate”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is I-N-F-I-L-T-R-A-T-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈɪnfɪltɹeɪt/ (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

Same frequency band

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