# particulate

> English word · Adjective · IPA /pɑːˈtɪk.jʊ.lɪt/ · frequency rank #27,592

## Definitions
1. Composed of separate particles.
2. Pertaining to heritable characteristics which are attributable discretely to either one or another of an offspring's parents, rather than a blend of the two.

## Etymology
From New Latin particulātus (“divided into small parts”) (also particulāta (“small parts”), from its neuter plural), from Classical Latin particula (“particle”), from pars (“part, piece”) + -cula (diminutive suffix), + -ātus (-ate). The verb is probably independently from the adjective rather than from Etymology 2.

## Easily confused with
- **particulates** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/particulate-vs-particulates)
- **particular** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/particular-vs-particulate)
- **participate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/participate-vs-particulate)
- **particulars** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/particulars-vs-particulate)

## Common misspellings (16)
`aprticulate`, `paritculate`, `parrticulate`, `partciulate`, `particculate`, `particluate`, `particualte`, `particulaet`, `particulatte`, `particullate`, `particultae`, `partiuclate`, `partticulate`, `patriculate`, `pparticulate`, `praticulate`

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