lilliputian

/ˌlɪlɪˈpjuʃən/

//ˌlɪlɪˈpjuʃən// noun

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

"lilliputian" is a 11-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“lilliputian” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
11
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A very small person or being.

Key facts for lilliputian
PropertyValue
Headwordlilliputian
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˌlɪlɪˈpjuʃən/
Letters11
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “lilliputian” sits in English frequency

lilliputian 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.

Rare enough to double-check

lilliputian is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˌlɪlɪˈpjuʃən/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 2 senses are on record.

No generated misspelling entries exist for lilliputian in our index, suggesting the orthography follows predictable English patterns. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, a sign it's visually distinctive enough not to be mixed up with another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: From the name of a fictional island called Lilliput in the novel Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift. The correct English form is lilliputian, spelled L-I-L-L-I-P-U-T-I-A-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    A very small person or being.
  2. 2
    A fruit fly gene that, when mutated, makes cells abnormally small. See AFF2.

Etymology

From the name of a fictional island called Lilliput in the novel Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift.

This word in other languages

liliputiense(Español)lilliputien(Français)Liliputaner(Deutsch)

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 "lilliputian"?
"lilliputian" is spelled L-I-L-L-I-P-U-T-I-A-N. The IPA pronunciation is /ˌlɪlɪˈpjuʃən/.
What does "lilliputian" mean?
As a noun, "lilliputian" means: A very small person or being.
How do you pronounce "lilliputian"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "lilliputian" is /ˌlɪlɪˈpjuʃən/. 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 "lilliputian"?
From the name of a fictional island called Lilliput in the novel Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift. 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 “lilliputian”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is L-I-L-L-I-P-U-T-I-A-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˌlɪlɪˈpjuʃən/ (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
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