levy

Name: levy, English Word Data
Creator: Wiktionary
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

/ˈlɛ.vi/

//ˈlɛ.vi// verb

By PlainSpell Editorial Team · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) · analyzed May 6, 2026

The verdict

“levy” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #8,954 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#8,954
frequency rank, English: 4
letters: 6
tracked misspellings: 20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To impose (a tax or fine) to collect monies due, or to confiscate property.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

levy vs LV

0% similar

levy vs lex

50% similar

levy vs Liv

25% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for levy
Property	Value
Headword	levy
Language	English
Part of speech	Verb
IPA	/ˈlɛ.vi/
Letters	4
Frequency rank	#8,954
Misspellings tracked	6
Confusable pairs	20
Source	Wiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “levy” 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). levy lands here:

#8,954

#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 levy is 4 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈlɛ.vi/. Corpus data places it at rank #8,954 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 7 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 6 likely wrong-spelling variants for levy, with forms such as "elvy", "levvy", and "levyy". 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. It also participates in 20 confusable-pair relationships, "LV", "lex", "Liv", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Anglo-Norman leve, from Old French levee, from lever (“to raise”). The correct English form is levy, spelled L-E-V-Y.

Definition

1
To impose (a tax or fine) to collect monies due, or to confiscate property.
2
To raise or collect by assessment; to exact by authority.
3
To draft someone into military service.
4
To raise; to collect; said of troops, to form into an army by enrollment, conscription. etc.
5
To wage war.
6
To raise, as a siege.
7
To erect, build, or set up; to make or construct; to raise or cast up.

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman leve, from Old French levee, from lever (“to raise”).

This word in other languages

multar(Español)lever(Français)erheben(Deutsch)convocar(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: elvy,levvy,levyy,leyv,llevy,lvey

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of levy - 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.

Edit distance from "levy"

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 "levy"?

"levy" is spelled L-E-V-Y. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈlɛ.vi/.

What does "levy" mean?

As a verb, "levy" means: To impose (a tax or fine) to collect monies due, or to confiscate property.

What words are commonly confused with "levy"?

"levy" is commonly confused with "LV", "lex", "Liv". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.

How do you pronounce "levy"?

The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "levy" is /ˈlɛ.vi/. 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 "levy"?

From Anglo-Norman leve, from Old French levee, from lever (“to raise”). 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 “levy”

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

The one correct English spelling is L-E-V-Y - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
Say it as /ˈlɛ.vi/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
Don't mix it up with “LV” - see the side-by-side comparison. levy vs LV
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.