palimpsest

/ˈpælɪmpsɛst/

//ˈpælɪmpsɛst// noun

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

"palimpsest" is a 10-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“palimpsest” is uncommon English (frequency #89,726 among 46,516 “P” headwords), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#89,726
frequency rank, English
46,516
“P” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A manuscript or document that has been erased or scraped clean, for reuse of the paper, parchment, vellum, or other medium on which it was written.

Key facts for palimpsest
PropertyValue
Headwordpalimpsest
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈpælɪmpsɛst/
Letters10
Frequency rank#89,726
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “palimpsest” 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). palimpsest lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

palimpsest is uncommon English at frequency #89,726 among 46,516 “P” headwords, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈpælɪmpsɛst/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 8 senses are on record.

No generated misspelling entries exist for palimpsest in our index, which points to an orthography that plays by predictable English rules. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, since nothing in our dataset looks or sounds close enough to cause mix-ups.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Latin palimpsēstus, from Ancient Greek παλίμψηστος (palímpsēstos, “scraped again”). The correct English form is palimpsest, spelled P-A-L-I-M-P-S-E-S-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    A manuscript or document that has been erased or scraped clean, for reuse of the paper, parchment, vellum, or other medium on which it was written.
  2. 2
    Monumental brasses that have been reused by engraving of the blank back side.
  3. 3
    Circular features believed to be lunar craters that have been obliterated by later volcanic activity.
  4. 4
    Geological features thought to be related to features or effects below the surface.
  5. 5
    Memory that has been erased and re-written.
  6. 6
    The partial erasure of or superimposition on an older society or culture by a newer one.
  7. 7
    Something bearing the traces of an earlier, erased form.
  8. 8
    A text with several layers of meaning, especially pertaining to different points in time.

Etymology

From Latin palimpsēstus, from Ancient Greek παλίμψηστος (palímpsēstos, “scraped again”).

Synonyms

codex rescriptus

This word in other languages

palimpsesto(Español)palimpseste(Français)Palimpsest(Deutsch)

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 "palimpsest"?
"palimpsest" is spelled P-A-L-I-M-P-S-E-S-T. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈpælɪmpsɛst/.
What does "palimpsest" mean?
As a noun, "palimpsest" means: A manuscript or document that has been erased or scraped clean, for reuse of the paper, parchment, vellum, or other medium on which it was written.
How do you pronounce "palimpsest"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "palimpsest" is /ˈpælɪmpsɛst/. 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 "palimpsest"?
From Latin palimpsēstus, from Ancient Greek παλίμψηστος (palímpsēstos, “scraped again”). 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 “palimpsest”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is P-A-L-I-M-P-S-E-S-T - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈpælɪmpsɛst/ (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

Other uncommon English words near this rank

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