lackluster

Name: lackluster, English Word Data
Creator: Wiktionary
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

/ˈlæklʌstə(ɹ)/

//ˈlæklʌstə(ɹ)// adj

By PlainSpell · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) · analyzed September 3, 2026

The verdict

“lackluster” has 16 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #29,338. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#29,338
frequency rank, English: 2,297
“L” headwords: 16
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - Lacking brilliance or intelligence.

Corpus desk

Index EN-lackluster · lackluster · English

lackluster · rank #29,338 · 16 variants · 0 confusables

FREQ-MID #29,338
LEN-MEGA 10 letters
VOW-3 3 vowels
CONFUS-0 No pairs
VAR-HIGH 16 variants
BOOK-MID 2,297
PHOTO-FINISH Kushner

Nearest frequency peer: Kushner (-1 rank slots)

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.

Khartoum

70,666
KJ

70,665
Kushner

70,664
lackluster

70,663
Langdon

70,662
larva

70,660

What this shows “lackluster” sits among these FrequencyWords peers; misspelling depth is tracked separately in the edit-distance chart.

Key facts for lackluster
Property	Value
Headword	lackluster
Language	English
Part of speech	Adjective
IPA	/ˈlæklʌstə(ɹ)/
Letters	10
Frequency rank	#29,338
Misspellings tracked	16
Confusable pairs	0
Source	Wiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “lackluster”

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right).lacklusterlands here:

#29,338

#1#100#1K#10K#100K

← used constantlyrarely used →

The axis is logarithmic, with each marked tick roughly ten times rarer than the last. Same rarity band neighbours include “Kushner” (#29,337), “Langdon” (#29,339), “KJ” (#29,336). Among 2,297 “L” headwords, “lackluster” is #29,338. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 16 spelling variants around lackluster (IPA /ˈlæklʌstə(ɹ)/), anadjective. Corpus frequency is #29,338 among 2,297 “L” headwords. Wiktionary lists 3 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 16 likely wrong-spelling variants for lackluster, with forms such as "alckluster", "lacckluster", and "lackkluster". 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 is not paired with a close-neighbour confusable in our dataset, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: From lack + luster. The correct English form is lackluster, spelled L-A-C-K-L-U-S-T-E-R.

Definition

1
Lacking brilliance or intelligence.
2
Having no shine or lustre; dull.
3
Not exceptional; not worthy of special merit, attention, or interest; having no vitality.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

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

A faded, and an ancient dragon he was; and many a wintry storm of rain, snow, sleet, and hail, had changed his colour from a gaudy blue to a faint lack-lustre shade of gray.
He sat looking at her with lack-lustre eyes. The light suddenly came back into them.

Etymology

From lack + luster.

Synonyms

pallid

This word in other languages

mate(Español)terne(Français)matt(Deutsch)mortiço(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

alckluster
lacckluster
lackkluster
lacklluster
lacklsuter
lacklusetr
lacklusster
lacklusterr
lacklustre
lacklustter
lacklutser
lackulster
laclkuster
lakcluster
lcakluster
llackluster

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of lackluster - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

Edit distance from "lackluster"

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 "lackluster"?

"lackluster" is spelled L-A-C-K-L-U-S-T-E-R. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈlæklʌstə(ɹ)/.

What does "lackluster" mean?

As an adjective, "lackluster" means: Lacking brilliance or intelligence.

What are common misspellings of "lackluster"?

Common misspellings include "alckluster", "lacckluster", "lackkluster", "lacklluster", "lacklsuter". The correct spelling is "lackluster".

How do you pronounce "lackluster"?

The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "lackluster" is /ˈlæklʌstə(ɹ)/. 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 "lackluster"?

From lack + luster. 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.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "lackluster", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 10 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

juggernaut#29,331 internment#29,323 infrequent#29,319 maturation#29,369

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (16 here; floor ≥5).

moisturizer16 variants flickering16 variants decapitated16 variants cyberspace16 variants