outlet

/ˈaʊtlɛt/

//ˈaʊtlɛt// noun

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

"outlet" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“outlet” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #7,163 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#7,163
frequency rank, English
6
letters
8
tracked misspellings
8
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A vent or similar passage to allow the escape of something.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

outlet vs output
67% similar
outlet vs outset
83% similar
outlet vs outlier
71% similar

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

Key facts for outlet
PropertyValue
Headwordoutlet
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈaʊtlɛt/
Letters6
Frequency rank#7,163
Misspellings tracked8
Confusable pairs8
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “outlet” 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). outlet 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 outlet is 6 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈaʊtlɛt/. Corpus data places it at rank #7,163 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 5 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 8 likely wrong-spelling variants for outlet, with forms such as "otulet", "oultet", and "outelt". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 8 confusable-pair relationships, "output", "outset", "outlier", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English outlete, outeleate, ut-lete, derived from Middle English outleten (“to allow, let out, emit”), equivalent to out- + let. Compare West Frisian útlit (“outlet”), Dutch uitlaat (“outlet”), German Auslass (“outlet”). The correct English form is outlet, spelled O-U-T-L-E-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    A vent or similar passage to allow the escape of something.
  2. 2
    Something which allows for the release of one's desires.
  3. 3
    A river that runs out of a lake.
  4. 4
    A shop that sells the products of a particular manufacturer or supplier.
  5. 5
    A wall-mounted socket connected to an electrical power supply, at which current can be taken to run electrical devices.

Etymology

From Middle English outlete, outeleate, ut-lete, derived from Middle English outleten (“to allow, let out, emit”), equivalent to out- + let. Compare West Frisian útlit (“outlet”), Dutch uitlaat (“outlet”), German Auslass (“outlet”).

This word in other languages

salida(Español)conduit(Français)Ausgang(Deutsch)ventilação(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: otulet,oultet,outelt,outlett,outllet,outlte,outtlet,uotlet

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of outlet - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

otulet2oultet2outelt2outlett1outllet1outlte2outtlet1uotlet2
Edit distance from "outlet"

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 "outlet"?
"outlet" is spelled O-U-T-L-E-T. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈaʊtlɛt/.
What does "outlet" mean?
As a noun, "outlet" means: A vent or similar passage to allow the escape of something.
What words are commonly confused with "outlet"?
"outlet" is commonly confused with "output", "outset", "outlier". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "outlet"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "outlet" is /ˈaʊtlɛt/. 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 "outlet"?
From Middle English outlete, outeleate, ut-lete, derived from Middle English outleten (“to allow, let out, emit”), equivalent to out- + let. Compare West Frisian útlit (“outlet”), Dutch uitlaat (“outlet”), German Auslass (“outlet”). 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 “outlet”

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

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