# letter

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈlɛtə/ · frequency rank #1,196

## Definitions
1. A symbol in an alphabet.
2. A written or printed communication, usually defined as longer and more formal than a note. (Sometimes specifically one that is on paper.)
3. The literal meaning of something, as distinguished from its intended and remoter meaning (the spirit).
4. Literature.
5. A division unit of a piece of law marked by a letter of the alphabet.
6. A size of paper, 8½ in × 11 in (215.9 mm × 279.4 mm).
7. A size of paper, 215 mm × 280 mm.
8. Clipping of varsity letter.
9. A single type; type, collectively; a style of type.

## Etymology
From Middle English letter, lettre, from Old French letre, from Latin littera (“letter of the alphabet"; in plural, "epistle”). Displaced Old English bōcstæf (literally “book staff”) in sense 1 and ǣrendġewrit (literally “message writing”) in sense 2.

## Easily confused with
- **lever** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/letter-vs-lever)
- **liter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/letter-vs-liter)
- **lotte** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/letter-vs-lotte)
- **Leyte** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/letter-vs-leyte)
- **Luther** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/letter-vs-luther)
- **litter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/letter-vs-litter)
- **lister** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/letter-vs-lister)
- **luster** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/letter-vs-luster)
- **lifter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/letter-vs-lifter)
- **letters** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/letter-vs-letters)
- **lottery** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/letter-vs-lottery)
- **leer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/leer-vs-letter)
- **later** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/later-vs-letter)
- **latte** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/latte-vs-letter)
- **leper** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/leper-vs-letter)
- **leger** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/leger-vs-letter)
- **leader** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/leader-vs-letter)
- **latter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/latter-vs-letter)
- **lesser** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lesser-vs-letter)
- **Lester** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lester-vs-letter)

## Common misspellings (7)
`eltter`, `leter`, `letetr`, `letterr`, `lettre`, `lletter`, `lteter`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/letter