latitude

/ˈlætɪtjuːd/

//ˈlætɪtjuːd// noun

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

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

The verdict

“latitude” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #13,555 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#13,555
frequency rank, English
8
letters
10
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The angular distance north or south from a planet's equator, measured along the meridian of that particular point.

Key facts for latitude
PropertyValue
Headwordlatitude
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈlætɪtjuːd/
Letters8
Frequency rank#13,555
Misspellings tracked10
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “latitude” 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). latitude 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 latitude is 8 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈlætɪtjuːd/. Corpus data places it at rank #13,555 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 6 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 10 likely wrong-spelling variants for latitude, with forms such as "laittude", "latitdue", and "latittude". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed into Middle English from Old French latitude, from Latin lātitūdō (“breadth, width, latitude”), from lātus (“broad, wide”), from older stlātus. Possibly related with lateral, though this is uncertain. The correct English form is latitude, spelled L-A-T-I-T-U-D-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    The angular distance north or south from a planet's equator, measured along the meridian of that particular point.
  2. 2
    An imaginary line (in the form of a circumference) around a planet running parallel to the planet's equator.
  3. 3
    The relative freedom from restrictions; scope to do something.
  4. 4
    The angular distance of a heavenly body from the ecliptic.
  5. 5
    The extent to which a light-sensitive material can be over- or underexposed and still achieve an acceptable result.
  6. 6
    Extent or scope; e.g. breadth, width or amplitude.

Etymology

Borrowed into Middle English from Old French latitude, from Latin lātitūdō (“breadth, width, latitude”), from lātus (“broad, wide”), from older stlātus. Possibly related with lateral, though this is uncertain.

This word in other languages

latitud(Español)latitude(Français)Breite(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: laittude,latitdue,latittude,latitudde,latitued,latiutde,lattitude,lattiude,llatitude,ltaitude

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of latitude - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

laittude2latitdue2latittude1latitudde1latitued2latiutde2lattitude1lattiude2
Edit distance from "latitude"

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 "latitude"?
"latitude" is spelled L-A-T-I-T-U-D-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈlætɪtjuːd/.
What does "latitude" mean?
As a noun, "latitude" means: The angular distance north or south from a planet's equator, measured along the meridian of that particular point.
What are common misspellings of "latitude"?
Common misspellings include "laittude", "latitdue", "latittude", "latitudde", "latitued". The correct spelling is "latitude".
How do you pronounce "latitude"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "latitude" is /ˈlætɪtjuːd/. 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 "latitude"?
Borrowed into Middle English from Old French latitude, from Latin lātitūdō (“breadth, width, latitude”), from lātus (“broad, wide”), from older stlātus. Possibly related with lateral, though this is uncertain. 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 “latitude”

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

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