# ladder

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈlad.ə/ · frequency rank #6,804

## Definitions
1. A frame, usually portable, of wood, metal, or rope, used for ascent and descent, consisting of two side pieces to which are fastened rungs (cross strips or rounds acting as steps).
2. A series of stages by which one progresses to a better position.
3. The hierarchy or ranking system within an organization, such as the corporate ladder.
4. A length of unravelled fabric in a knitted garment, especially in nylon stockings; a run.
5. A sequence of moves following a zigzag pattern and ultimately leading to the capture of the attacked stones.
6. A league table.

## Etymology
Inherited from Middle English ladder, laddre; from Old English hlǣder, from Proto-West Germanic *hlaidriju, from Proto-Germanic *hlaidrijō, from Proto-Indo-European *ḱlóydʰrom, from *ḱley- (“to lean”).
Compare Scots ledder, North Frisian ladder, Saterland Frisian Laadere, West Frisian ljedder, Dutch ladder, German Leiter; also Old Irish clithar (“hedge”), and Umbrian 𐌊𐌋𐌄𐌈𐌓𐌀𐌌 (kleθram, “stretcher”). See lean, which is related to lid.
Further cognates include Ashkun istrī, Kamkata-viri c̣ik, Prasuni čik, čix; Waigali c̣iř, Sanskrit श्रिति (śrití).

## Easily confused with
- **later** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ladder-vs-later)
- **layer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ladder-vs-layer)
- **laser** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ladder-vs-laser)
- **laden** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ladder-vs-laden)
- **lager** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ladder-vs-lager)
- **Laude** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ladder-vs-laude)
- **laker** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ladder-vs-laker)
- **lazer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ladder-vs-lazer)
- **ladle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ladder-vs-ladle)
- **laver** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ladder-vs-laver)
- **leader** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ladder-vs-leader)
- **larger** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ladder-vs-larger)
- **lawyer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ladder-vs-lawyer)
- **ladies** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ladder-vs-ladies)
- **latter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ladder-vs-latter)
- **landed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ladder-vs-landed)
- **louder** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ladder-vs-louder)
- **lender** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ladder-vs-lender)
- **ledger** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ladder-vs-ledger)
- **lander** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ladder-vs-lander)

## Common misspellings (7)
`aldder`, `ladderr`, `laddre`, `ladedr`, `lader`, `ldader`, `lladder`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/ladder