motile

Name: motile, English Word Data
Creator: Wiktionary
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

/ˈməʊtaɪl/

//ˈməʊtaɪl// adj

By PlainSpell Editorial Team · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) · analyzed May 6, 2026

The verdict

“motile” is an uncommon English word, ranked #64,558 in English word frequency and used as an adjective.

#64,558
frequency rank, English: 6
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - In organisms: having the power to move spontaneously.

Key facts for motile
Property	Value
Headword	motile
Language	English
Part of speech	Adjective
IPA	/ˈməʊtaɪl/
Letters	6
Frequency rank	#64,558
Misspellings tracked	0
Confusable pairs	0
Source	Wiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “motile” 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). motile lands here:

#64,558

#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 motile is 6 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈməʊtaɪl/. Corpus data places it at rank #64,558 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 4 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

motile doesn't appear in our generated misspelling index, since its letter pattern doesn't lend itself to common typo substitutions. 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: From Latin mōtus, perfect passive participle of moveō (“I move”) (English move). The correct English form is motile, spelled M-O-T-I-L-E.

Definition

1
In organisms: having the power to move spontaneously.
2
In organs or organelles: capable of producing motion.
3
In organs: having the power to move their contents, or to change their shape or tension by writhing or contracting as required by their particular physiological functions.
4
Of or relating to those mental images that arise from the sensations of bodily movement and position.

Etymology

From Latin mōtus, perfect passive participle of moveō (“I move”) (English move).

This word in other languages

móvil(Español)motile(Français)beweglich(Deutsch)móvel(Português)

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 "motile"?

"motile" is spelled M-O-T-I-L-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈməʊtaɪl/.

What does "motile" mean?

As an adjective, "motile" means: In organisms: having the power to move spontaneously.

How do you pronounce "motile"?

The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "motile" is /ˈməʊtaɪl/. 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 "motile"?

From Latin mōtus, perfect passive participle of moveō (“I move”) (English move). 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 “motile”

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

The one correct English spelling is M-O-T-I-L-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
Say it as /ˈməʊtaɪl/ (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.