lateral
/ˈlæt(ə)ɹəl/adjective, noun, verb
lateral is spelled L-A-T-E-R-A-L: 7 letters and 3 syllables. It appears 5.6 times per million words in written English, the 10,358th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adjective, lateral means “Situated on one side or other of the body or of an organ, especially in the region furthest from the median plane” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in lateral?
| Letters | 7: L-A-T-E-R-A-L |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 3 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 5.6 times per million words; the 10,358th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is lateral?
Lateral appears 5.6 times per million words in written English, the 10,358th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce lateral?
- UK /ˈlæt(ə)ɹəl/
- British /ˈlat͡ʃ(ə)ɹəl/
- British /ˈlat(ə)ɹəl/
Lateral has 3 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-lateral.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of lateral
- more lateral comparative
- most lateral superlative
- laterals plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- lateraling US, participle, present
- lateralling UK, participle, present
- lateraled US, participle, past
- lateralled UK, participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does lateral mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
Situated on one side or other of the body or of an organ, especially in the region furthest from the median plane.
The medial side of the knee faces the other knee, while the outer side of the knee is lateral.
- 2
Affecting the side or sides of the body, or confined to one side of the body.
- 3
Acting or placed at right angles to a line of motion or strain.
- 4
At the same level in hierarchy or rank, especially pertaining to a movement that does not involve a change in rank, status, or level.
Instead of a promotion, I opted for a lateral move to a similar position in the marketing department.
- 5
UKNon-linear or unconventional, as in, lateral thinking; outside the box.
- 6
(of a consonant, especially the English clear l) Pertaining to speech sounds generated by partially blocking the egress of the airstream with the tongue, leaving space on one or both sides of the occlusion for air passage.
noun
- 1
An object, such as a passage or a protrusion, that is situated on the side of something else.
- 2
A sound produced through lateral pronunciation (such as /l/ in lateral).
- 3
A lateral pass.
- 4
An employee hired for a position at the same organizational level or salary as their previous position.
- 5
A lateral canal, a canal built alongside an existing stream.
[…] Canal and laterals, section 4, and the first part of section 5; and Miller Canal and laterals.
verb
- 1
To move (oneself or something) in a lateral direction.
- 2
To execute a lateral pass.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Lateral in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | latéral |
| German | lateral, seitlich, Seiten- , Lateral, Laterallaut, Seitenlaut |
| Portuguese | lateral |
| Spanish | lateral |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does lateral come from?
Borrowed from Latin laterālis (“belonging to the side”), from latus (“the side or flank”) + -ālis (“-al”, adjectival suffix).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).