lightning

/ˈlaɪt.nɪŋ/

//ˈlaɪt.nɪŋ// noun

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

"lightning" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“lightning” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #4,960 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#4,960
frequency rank, English
9
letters
14
tracked misspellings
2
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A flash of light produced by short-duration, high-voltage discharge of electricity within a cloud, between clouds, or between a cloud and the earth.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

lightning vs lighting
89% similar
lightning vs lightening
90% similar

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

Key facts for lightning
PropertyValue
Headwordlightning
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈlaɪt.nɪŋ/
Letters9
Frequency rank#4,960
Misspellings tracked14
Confusable pairs2
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “lightning” 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). lightning 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 lightning is 9 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈlaɪt.nɪŋ/. Corpus data places it at rank #4,960 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 5 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 14 likely wrong-spelling variants for lightning, with forms such as "ilghtning", "lgihtning", and "ligghtning". 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. It also participates in 2 confusable-pair relationships, "lighting", "lightening", since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From light(e)n + -ing. Doublet of lightening. The correct English form is lightning, spelled L-I-G-H-T-N-I-N-G.

Definition

  1. 1
    A flash of light produced by short-duration, high-voltage discharge of electricity within a cloud, between clouds, or between a cloud and the earth.
  2. 2
    A discharge of this kind.
  3. 3
    Anything that moves very fast.
  4. 4
    Gin.
  5. 5
    Obsolete form of lightening.

Etymology

From light(e)n + -ing. Doublet of lightening.

This word in other languages

relámpago(Español)éclair(Français)Blitz(Deutsch)relâmpago(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ilghtning,lgihtning,ligghtning,lighhtning,lighnting,lightnign,lightningg,lightninng,lightnnig,lightnning,lighttning,ligthning,lihgtning,llightning

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of lightning - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

ilghtning2lgihtning2ligghtning1lighhtning1lighnting2lightnign2lightningg1lightninng1
Edit distance from "lightning"

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 "lightning"?
"lightning" is spelled L-I-G-H-T-N-I-N-G. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈlaɪt.nɪŋ/.
What does "lightning" mean?
As a noun, "lightning" means: A flash of light produced by short-duration, high-voltage discharge of electricity within a cloud, between clouds, or between a cloud and the earth.
What words are commonly confused with "lightning"?
"lightning" is commonly confused with "lighting", "lightening". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "lightning"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "lightning" is /ˈlaɪt.nɪŋ/. 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 "lightning"?
From light(e)n + -ing. Doublet of lightening. 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 “lightning”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is L-I-G-H-T-N-I-N-G - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈlaɪt.nɪŋ/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “lighting” - see the side-by-side comparison. lightning vs lighting
  • 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