# out of kilter

> English word · Prep_phrase · IPA /ˌaʊt əv ˈkɪltə/

## Definitions
1. Askew, disturbed; not adjusted or working properly; out of order.

## Etymology
From out of + kilter, kelter (“good condition, form, or order; fettle”). The latter word is of uncertain origin, but appears widely in a British dialect and also in the United States.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/out-of-kilter