log in

verb

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

"log-in" is a 5-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

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

Unranked
below top-frequency English
6
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To gain access to a computer system, usually by providing a previously registered username and password.

Key facts for log in
PropertyValue
Headwordlog in
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
Letters6
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “log in” sits in English frequency

log in 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

log in is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as averb. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 2 senses are on record.

Zero misspellings are on record for log in in our index, which points to an orthography that plays by predictable English rules. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: By analogy with clock in. First use of the term appears in 1963 in the publication Compatible Time-Sharing System from the MIT Computation Center. The correct English form is log in, spelled L-O-G- -I-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    To gain access to a computer system, usually by providing a previously registered username and password.
  2. 2
    To be placed at a certain ranking.

Etymology

By analogy with clock in. First use of the term appears in 1963 in the publication Compatible Time-Sharing System from the MIT Computation Center.

This word in other languages

entrar(Español)s'identifier(Français)einloggen(Deutsch)entrar(Português)

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 "log in"?
"log in" is spelled L-O-G- -I-N.
What does "log in" mean?
As a verb, "log in" means: To gain access to a computer system, usually by providing a previously registered username and password.
What is the origin of the word "log in"?
By analogy with clock in. First use of the term appears in 1963 in the publication Compatible Time-Sharing System from the MIT Computation Center. 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 “log in”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is L-O-G- -I-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • 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