permeate

/ˈpɜːmiˌeɪt/

//ˈpɜːmiˌeɪt// verb

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

"permeate" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“permeate” has 11 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #45,580. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#45,580
frequency rank, English
46,516
“P” headwords
11
tracked misspellings
1
confusable pair

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To pass through the pores or interstices of; to penetrate and pass through without causing rupture or displacement; applied especially to fluids which pass through substances of loose texture

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

permeate vs permeable
78% similar

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

Key facts for permeate
PropertyValue
Headwordpermeate
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ˈpɜːmiˌeɪt/
Letters8
Frequency rank#45,580
Misspellings tracked11
Confusable pairs1
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “permeate” 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). permeate lands here:

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

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

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 11 spelling variants around permeate (IPA /ˈpɜːmiˌeɪt/), averb. Corpus frequency is #45,580 among 46,516 “P” headwords. Wiktionary lists 2 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 11 likely wrong-spelling variants for permeate, with forms such as "eprmeate", "pemreate", and "peremate". 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 1 confusable-pair relationship, "permeable", where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: First attested in 1656; borrowed from Latin permeātus, perfect passive participle of permeō (“to pass through”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (noun-forming suffix). The correct English form is permeate, spelled P-E-R-M-E-A-T-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To pass through the pores or interstices of; to penetrate and pass through without causing rupture or displacement; applied especially to fluids which pass through substances of loose texture
  2. 2
    To enter and spread through; to pervade.

Etymology

First attested in 1656; borrowed from Latin permeātus, perfect passive participle of permeō (“to pass through”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (noun-forming suffix).

This word in other languages

percolar(Español)s'infiltrer(Français)durchsickern(Deutsch)permear(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • eprmeate
  • pemreate
  • peremate
  • permaete
  • permeaet
  • permeatte
  • permetae
  • permmeate
  • perrmeate
  • ppermeate
  • premeate

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of permeate - 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.

eprmeate2pemreate2peremate2permaete2permeaet2permeatte1permetae2permmeate1
Edit distance from "permeate"

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 "permeate"?
"permeate" is spelled P-E-R-M-E-A-T-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈpɜːmiˌeɪt/.
What does "permeate" mean?
As a verb, "permeate" means: To pass through the pores or interstices of; to penetrate and pass through without causing rupture or displacement; applied especially to fluids which pass through substances of loose texture
What words are commonly confused with "permeate"?
"permeate" is commonly confused with "permeable". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "permeate"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "permeate" is /ˈpɜːmiˌeɪt/. 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 "permeate"?
First attested in 1656; borrowed from Latin permeātus, perfect passive participle of permeō (“to pass through”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (noun-forming suffix). 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 “permeate”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is P-E-R-M-E-A-T-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈpɜːmiˌeɪt/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “permeable” - see the side-by-side comparison. permeate vs permeable
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Same frequency band

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