pilaster
/pɪˈlastə/
"pilaster" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“pilaster” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a noun - the kind of word writers most often double-check.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 8
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A rectangular column that projects partially from the wall to which it is attached; it gives the appearance of a support, but is only for decoration.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | pilaster |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Noun |
| IPA | /pɪˈlastə/ |
| Letters | 8 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “pilaster” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for pilaster is 8 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /pɪˈlastə/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 2 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.
Our edit-distance generator produced no likely misspellings for pilaster, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, which typically means the spelling is too distinctive to be mistaken for another word.
Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle French pilastre, from Italian pilastro. Equivalent to pillar + -aster. The correct English form is pilaster, spelled P-I-L-A-S-T-E-R.
Definition
- 1A rectangular column that projects partially from the wall to which it is attached; it gives the appearance of a support, but is only for decoration.
- 2A column or short wing wall attached to the foundation wall which provides lateral support, or to support a vertical load that does not fall on the foundation wall.
Etymology
From Middle French pilastre, from Italian pilastro. Equivalent to pillar + -aster.
This word in other languages
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you spell "pilaster"?
What does "pilaster" mean?
How do you pronounce "pilaster"?
What is the origin of the word "pilaster"?
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Using “pilaster”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is P-I-L-A-S-T-E-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /pɪˈlastə/ (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
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.