let slide

verb

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

The verdict

“let slide” 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
9
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To let go; to allow; to release; to pass over without action.

Key facts for let slide
PropertyValue
Headwordlet slide
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
Letters9
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “let slide” sits in English frequency

let slide 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 let slide is 9 letters long, classified as a verb. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 5 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

let slide has no tracked misspelling variants, suggesting the orthography follows predictable English patterns. It is not paired with a close-neighbour confusable in our dataset, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English leten sliden (“to disregard, put aside, let pass, neglect”), equivalent to let + slide. The correct English form is let slide, spelled L-E-T- -S-L-I-D-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To let go; to allow; to release; to pass over without action.
  2. 2
    To pass out of one's thought as not being of any consequence.
  3. 3
    To tolerate a violation of a norm from.
  4. 4
    To allow the condition of something to deteriorate due to negligence or apathy.
  5. 5
    Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see let, slide.

Etymology

From Middle English leten sliden (“to disregard, put aside, let pass, neglect”), equivalent to let + slide.

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 "let slide"?
"let slide" is spelled L-E-T- -S-L-I-D-E.
What does "let slide" mean?
As a verb, "let slide" means: To let go; to allow; to release; to pass over without action.
What is the origin of the word "let slide"?
From Middle English leten sliden (“to disregard, put aside, let pass, neglect”), equivalent to let + slide. 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 “let slide”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is L-E-T- -S-L-I-D-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • 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