longitude

/ˈlɒnd͡ʒɪtʃuːd/

//ˈlɒnd͡ʒɪtʃuːd// noun

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

The verdict

“longitude” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #20,695 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#20,695
frequency rank, English
9
letters
13
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Angular distance measured west or east of the prime meridian.

Key facts for longitude
PropertyValue
Headwordlongitude
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈlɒnd͡ʒɪtʃuːd/
Letters9
Frequency rank#20,695
Misspellings tracked13
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “longitude” 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). longitude 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 longitude is 9 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈlɒnd͡ʒɪtʃuːd/. Corpus data places it at rank #20,695 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 13 likely wrong-spelling variants for longitude, with forms such as "llongitude", "lnogitude", and "lognitude". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, which tends to mean the word is visually distinctive enough to stand on its own.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English, borrowed from Old French longitude, from Latin longitūdō (“length, a measured length”), from longus (“long”). The correct English form is longitude, spelled L-O-N-G-I-T-U-D-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    Angular distance measured west or east of the prime meridian.
  2. 2
    Any imaginary line perpendicular to the equator and part of a great circle passing through the North Pole and South Pole.
  3. 3
    Length.

Etymology

From Middle English, borrowed from Old French longitude, from Latin longitūdō (“length, a measured length”), from longus (“long”).

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: llongitude,lnogitude,lognitude,longgitude,longitdue,longittude,longitudde,longitued,longiutde,longtiude,lonigtude,lonngitude,olngitude

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

llongitude1lnogitude2lognitude2longgitude1longitdue2longittude1longitudde1longitued2
Edit distance from "longitude"

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 "longitude"?
"longitude" is spelled L-O-N-G-I-T-U-D-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈlɒnd͡ʒɪtʃuːd/.
What does "longitude" mean?
As a noun, "longitude" means: Angular distance measured west or east of the prime meridian.
What are common misspellings of "longitude"?
Common misspellings include "llongitude", "lnogitude", "lognitude", "longgitude", "longitdue". The correct spelling is "longitude".
How do you pronounce "longitude"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "longitude" is /ˈlɒnd͡ʒɪtʃuːd/. 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 "longitude"?
From Middle English, borrowed from Old French longitude, from Latin longitūdō (“length, a measured length”), from longus (“long”). 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 “longitude”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is L-O-N-G-I-T-U-D-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈlɒnd͡ʒɪtʃuːd/ (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 FrequencyWords open word-frequency list