pillar

/ˈpɪlə/

//ˈpɪlə// noun

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

"pillar" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“pillar” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #12,296 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#12,296
frequency rank, English
6
letters
6
tracked misspellings
13
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A large post, often used as supporting architecture.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

pillar vs pills
67% similar
pillar vs polar
67% similar
pillar vs Pixar
50% similar

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

Key facts for pillar
PropertyValue
Headwordpillar
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈpɪlə/
Letters6
Frequency rank#12,296
Misspellings tracked6
Confusable pairs13
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “pillar” 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). pillar lands here:

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

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

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for pillar is 6 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈpɪlə/. Corpus data places it at rank #12,296 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 7 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 6 likely wrong-spelling variants for pillar, with forms such as "ipllar", "pilalr", and "pillarr". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 13 confusable-pair relationships, "pills", "polar", "Pixar", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English piler, from Old French pilier, from Medieval Latin or Vulgar Latin *pilāre (“a pillar”), from Latin pila (“a pillar, pier, mole”). The correct English form is pillar, spelled P-I-L-L-A-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    A large post, often used as supporting architecture.
  2. 2
    Something resembling such a structure.
  3. 3
    An essential part of something that provides support.
  4. 4
    A portable ornamental column, formerly carried before a cardinal, as emblematic of his support to the church.
  5. 5
    The centre of the volta, ring, or manege ground, around which a horse turns.
  6. 6
    The body from the hips over the core to the shoulders.
  7. 7
    A vertical, often spire-shaped, natural rock formation.

Etymology

From Middle English piler, from Old French pilier, from Medieval Latin or Vulgar Latin *pilāre (“a pillar”), from Latin pila (“a pillar, pier, mole”).

Synonyms

columnsile

This word in other languages

pilar(Español)pilier(Français)Pfeiler(Deutsch)pilar(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ipllar,pilalr,pillarr,pillra,plilar,ppillar

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

ipllar2pilalr2pillarr1pillra2plilar2ppillar1
Edit distance from "pillar"

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 "pillar"?
"pillar" is spelled P-I-L-L-A-R. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈpɪlə/.
What does "pillar" mean?
As a noun, "pillar" means: A large post, often used as supporting architecture.
What words are commonly confused with "pillar"?
"pillar" is commonly confused with "pills", "polar", "Pixar". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "pillar"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "pillar" is /ˈpɪlə/. 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 "pillar"?
From Middle English piler, from Old French pilier, from Medieval Latin or Vulgar Latin *pilāre (“a pillar”), from Latin pila (“a pillar, pier, mole”). 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 “pillar”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is P-I-L-L-A-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈpɪlə/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “pills” - see the side-by-side comparison. pillar vs pills
  • 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.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list