laxative

/ˈlæk.sə.tɪv/

//ˈlæk.sə.tɪv// adj

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

The verdict

“laxative” has 11 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #43,750. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#43,750
frequency rank, English
16,425
“L” headwords
11
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Having the effect of moving the bowels, or aiding digestion and preventing constipation.

Key facts for laxative
PropertyValue
Headwordlaxative
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˈlæk.sə.tɪv/
Letters8
Frequency rank#43,750
Misspellings tracked11
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “laxative” 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). laxative lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 11 spelling variants around laxative (IPA /ˈlæk.sə.tɪv/), anadjective. Corpus frequency is #43,750 among 16,425 “L” headwords. Dominant gloss: "Having the effect of moving the bowels, or aiding digestion and preventing constipation.".

Our generated misspelling index lists 11 likely wrong-spelling variants for laxative, with forms such as "alxative", "laaxtive", and "laxaitve". 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. Our dataset records no confusable match here, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle French laxatif, from Latin laxātīvus (literally “relaxing, loosening”). The correct English form is laxative, spelled L-A-X-A-T-I-V-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    Having the effect of moving the bowels, or aiding digestion and preventing constipation.

Etymology

From Middle French laxatif, from Latin laxātīvus (literally “relaxing, loosening”).

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • alxative
  • laaxtive
  • laxaitve
  • laxatiev
  • laxativve
  • laxattive
  • laxatvie
  • laxtaive
  • laxxative
  • llaxative
  • lxaative

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of laxative - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

alxative2laaxtive2laxaitve2laxatiev2laxativve1laxattive1laxatvie2laxtaive2
Edit distance from "laxative"

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 "laxative"?
"laxative" is spelled L-A-X-A-T-I-V-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈlæk.sə.tɪv/.
What does "laxative" mean?
As an adjective, "laxative" means: Having the effect of moving the bowels, or aiding digestion and preventing constipation.
What are common misspellings of "laxative"?
Common misspellings include "alxative", "laaxtive", "laxaitve", "laxatiev", "laxativve". The correct spelling is "laxative".
How do you pronounce "laxative"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "laxative" is /ˈlæk.sə.tɪv/. 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 "laxative"?
From Middle French laxatif, from Latin laxātīvus (literally “relaxing, loosening”). 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 “laxative”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is L-A-X-A-T-I-V-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈlæk.sə.tɪv/ (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

Same frequency band

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