# parallel

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈpæ.ɹəˌlɛl/ · frequency rank #4,546

## Definitions
1. Equally distant from one another at all points.
2. Having the same overall direction; the comparison is indicated with "to".
3. Either not intersecting, or coinciding.
4. Involving the processing of multiple tasks at the same time.
5. Analogous, similar, comparable.
6. Coexisting but normally not interacting with the regular reality.

## Etymology
From Middle French parallèle and its etymon Latin parallēlus, parallēlos. The verb is from the noun. By surface analysis, par- + all- + -el.

## Easily confused with
- **parable** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/parable-vs-parallel)
- **parallax** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/parallax-vs-parallel)

## Common misspellings (10)
`aprallel`, `paarllel`, `paralel`, `paralell`, `parallell`, `parallle`, `parlalel`, `parrallel`, `pparallel`, `praallel`

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