locator

/ləʊˈkeɪtə/

//ləʊˈkeɪtə// noun

"locator" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“locator” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #27,905 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#27,905
frequency rank, English
7
letters
10
tracked misspellings
4
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - One who, or that which, locates.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

locator vs Lovato
57% similar
locator vs locate
71% similar
locator vs located
71% similar

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

Key facts for locator
PropertyValue
Headwordlocator
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ləʊˈkeɪtə/
Letters7
Frequency rank#27,905
Misspellings tracked10
Confusable pairs4
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “locator” 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). locator 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 locator is 7 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ləʊˈkeɪtə/. Corpus data places it at rank #27,905 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 10 likely wrong-spelling variants for locator, with forms such as "lcoator", "llocator", and "loactor". 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 4 confusable-pair relationships, "Lovato", "locate", "located", 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 Latin locātor. By surface analysis, locate + -or. The correct English form is locator, spelled L-O-C-A-T-O-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    One who, or that which, locates.
  2. 2
    One who locates, or is entitled to locate, land or a mining claim.
  3. 3
    The unique alphanumeric reference given to each travel booking.

Etymology

From Latin locātor. By surface analysis, locate + -or.

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: lcoator,llocator,loactor,locaotr,locatorr,locatro,locattor,loccator,loctaor,olcator

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

lcoator2llocator1loactor2locaotr2locatorr1locatro2locattor1loccator1
Edit distance from "locator"

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 "locator"?
"locator" is spelled L-O-C-A-T-O-R. The IPA pronunciation is /ləʊˈkeɪtə/.
What does "locator" mean?
As a noun, "locator" means: One who, or that which, locates.
What words are commonly confused with "locator"?
"locator" is commonly confused with "Lovato", "locate", "located". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "locator"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "locator" is /ləʊˈkeɪtə/. 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 "locator"?
From Latin locātor. By surface analysis, locate + -or. 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 “locator”

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

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