lapidate

/ˈlæpɪˌdeɪt/

//ˈlæpɪˌdeɪt// verb

"lapidate" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“lapidate” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a verb - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
8
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To throw stones or other objects at, as punishment, sometimes until death.

Key facts for lapidate
PropertyValue
Headwordlapidate
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ˈlæpɪˌdeɪt/
Letters8
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “lapidate” sits in English frequency

lapidate falls 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.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for lapidate is 8 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈlæpɪˌdeɪt/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 2 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for lapidate, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, since nothing in our dataset looks or sounds close enough to cause mix-ups.

Etymologically, the entry records: First attested in 1623; borrowed from Latin lapidātus, perfect passive participle of lapidō (“to throw stones at”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from lapis (“stone”). The correct English form is lapidate, spelled L-A-P-I-D-A-T-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To throw stones or other objects at, as punishment, sometimes until death.
  2. 2
    To hurl insults at.

Etymology

First attested in 1623; borrowed from Latin lapidātus, perfect passive participle of lapidō (“to throw stones at”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from lapis (“stone”).

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 "lapidate"?
"lapidate" is spelled L-A-P-I-D-A-T-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈlæpɪˌdeɪt/.
What does "lapidate" mean?
As a verb, "lapidate" means: To throw stones or other objects at, as punishment, sometimes until death.
How do you pronounce "lapidate"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "lapidate" is /ˈlæpɪˌdeɪt/. 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 "lapidate"?
First attested in 1623; borrowed from Latin lapidātus, perfect passive participle of lapidō (“to throw stones at”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from lapis (“stone”). 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 “lapidate”

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

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