limelight

/ˈlaɪm.laɪt/

//ˈlaɪm.laɪt// noun

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

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

The verdict

“limelight” has 14 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #25,120. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#25,120
frequency rank, English
16,425
“L” headwords
14
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The intense white light produced when heating lime in an oxyhydrogen flame.

Key facts for limelight
PropertyValue
Headwordlimelight
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈlaɪm.laɪt/
Letters9
Frequency rank#25,120
Misspellings tracked14
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “limelight” 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). limelight lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 14 spelling variants around limelight (IPA /ˈlaɪm.laɪt/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #25,120 among 16,425 “L” headwords. Wiktionary lists 3 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 14 likely wrong-spelling variants for limelight, with forms such as "ilmelight", "liemlight", and "limeilght". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. No close-neighbour confusable shows up for this headword in our dataset, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

Etymologically, the entry records: From lime + light. The correct English form is limelight, spelled L-I-M-E-L-I-G-H-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    The intense white light produced when heating lime in an oxyhydrogen flame.
  2. 2
    A type of stage lighting once used in theatres and music halls, producing a bright light by the use of incandescent quicklime.
  3. 3
    Attention, notice, a starring or central role, present fame; spotlight.

Etymology

From lime + light.

This word in other languages

feux de la rampe(Français)Rampenlicht(Deutsch)destaque(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • ilmelight
  • liemlight
  • limeilght
  • limelgiht
  • limeligght
  • limelighht
  • limelightt
  • limeligth
  • limelihgt
  • limellight
  • limleight
  • limmelight
  • llimelight
  • lmielight

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of limelight - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

ilmelight2liemlight2limeilght2limelgiht2limeligght1limelighht1limelightt1limeligth2
Edit distance from "limelight"

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 "limelight"?
"limelight" is spelled L-I-M-E-L-I-G-H-T. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈlaɪm.laɪt/.
What does "limelight" mean?
As a noun, "limelight" means: The intense white light produced when heating lime in an oxyhydrogen flame.
What are common misspellings of "limelight"?
Common misspellings include "ilmelight", "liemlight", "limeilght", "limelgiht", "limeligght". The correct spelling is "limelight".
How do you pronounce "limelight"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "limelight" is /ˈlaɪm.laɪt/. 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 "limelight"?
From lime + light. 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 “limelight”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is L-I-M-E-L-I-G-H-T - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈlaɪm.laɪt/ (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

Same frequency band

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