jostle

/ˈd͡ʒɒs.əl/

//ˈd͡ʒɒs.əl// verb

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

"jostle" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“jostle” is an uncommon English word, ranked #73,326 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#73,326
frequency rank, English
6
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To bump into or brush against while in motion; to push aside.

Key facts for jostle
PropertyValue
Headwordjostle
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ˈd͡ʒɒs.əl/
Letters6
Frequency rank#73,326
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “jostle” 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). jostle 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 jostle is 6 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈd͡ʒɒs.əl/. Corpus data places it at rank #73,326 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 5 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

No generated misspelling entries exist for jostle in our index, a straightforward case of a spelling with little room for common typos. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.

Etymologically, the entry records: Originally justle (“to have sex with”), formed from Middle English jousten, from the Old French joster (“to joust”), from Latin iuxtā (“next to”), from iungō (“join, connect”), equivalent to joust + -le. The correct English form is jostle, spelled J-O-S-T-L-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To bump into or brush against while in motion; to push aside.
  2. 2
    To move through by pushing and shoving.
  3. 3
    To be close to or in physical contact with.
  4. 4
    To contend or vie in order to acquire something.
  5. 5
    To pick or attempt to pick pockets.

Etymology

Originally justle (“to have sex with”), formed from Middle English jousten, from the Old French joster (“to joust”), from Latin iuxtā (“next to”), from iungō (“join, connect”), equivalent to joust + -le.

This word in other languages

codear(Español)bousculer(Français)drängeln(Deutsch)esbarrar(Português)

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 "jostle"?
"jostle" is spelled J-O-S-T-L-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈd͡ʒɒs.əl/.
What does "jostle" mean?
As a verb, "jostle" means: To bump into or brush against while in motion; to push aside.
How do you pronounce "jostle"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "jostle" is /ˈd͡ʒɒs.əl/. 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 "jostle"?
Originally justle (“to have sex with”), formed from Middle English jousten, from the Old French joster (“to joust”), from Latin iuxtā (“next to”), from iungō (“join, connect”), equivalent to joust + -le. 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 “jostle”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is J-O-S-T-L-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈd͡ʒɒs.əl/ (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
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