locate

/lə(ʊ)ˈkeɪt/

//lə(ʊ)ˈkeɪt// verb

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

"locate" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“locate” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #7,809 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#7,809
frequency rank, English
6
letters
8
tracked misspellings
11
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To place; to set in a particular spot or position.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

locate vs Locke
50% similar
locate vs lotte
67% similar
locate vs Lovato
50% similar

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

Key facts for locate
PropertyValue
Headwordlocate
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/lə(ʊ)ˈkeɪt/
Letters6
Frequency rank#7,809
Misspellings tracked8
Confusable pairs11
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “locate” 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). locate 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 locate is 6 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /lə(ʊ)ˈkeɪt/. Corpus data places it at rank #7,809 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 4 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 8 likely wrong-spelling variants for locate, with forms such as "lcoate", "llocate", and "loacte". 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 11 confusable-pair relationships, "Locke", "lotte", "Lovato", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from Latin locātus, perfect passive participle of locō (“to place”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from locus (“place”) + -ō (verb-forming suffix). Cognate with French louer; see also local and lieu. The correct English form is locate, spelled L-O-C-A-T-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To place; to set in a particular spot or position.
  2. 2
    To find out where something is located.
  3. 3
    To designate the site or place of; to define the limits of (Note: the designation may be purely descriptive: it need not be prescriptive.)
  4. 4
    To place oneself; to take up one's residence; to settle.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin locātus, perfect passive participle of locō (“to place”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from locus (“place”) + -ō (verb-forming suffix). Cognate with French louer; see also local and lieu.

This word in other languages

ubicar(Español)localiser(Français)orten(Deutsch)localizar(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: lcoate,llocate,loacte,locaet,locatte,loccate,loctae,olcate

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

lcoate2llocate1loacte2locaet2locatte1loccate1loctae2olcate2
Edit distance from "locate"

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 "locate"?
"locate" is spelled L-O-C-A-T-E. The IPA pronunciation is /lə(ʊ)ˈkeɪt/.
What does "locate" mean?
As a verb, "locate" means: To place; to set in a particular spot or position.
What words are commonly confused with "locate"?
"locate" is commonly confused with "Locke", "lotte", "Lovato". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "locate"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "locate" is /lə(ʊ)ˈkeɪt/. 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 "locate"?
Borrowed from Latin locātus, perfect passive participle of locō (“to place”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from locus (“place”) + -ō (verb-forming suffix). Cognate with French louer; see also local and lieu. 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 “locate”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is L-O-C-A-T-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /lə(ʊ)ˈkeɪt/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “Locke” - see the side-by-side comparison. locate vs Locke
  • 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