# pillar

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈpɪlə/ · frequency rank #12,296

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

## Easily confused with
- **pills** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pillar-vs-pills)
- **polar** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pillar-vs-polar)
- **Pixar** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pillar-vs-pixar)
- **pillow** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pillar-vs-pillow)
- **poplar** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pillar-vs-poplar)
- **pulsar** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pillar-vs-pulsar)
- **puller** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pillar-vs-puller)
- **pillars** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pillar-vs-pillars)
- **Pollard** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pillar-vs-pollard)
- **pill** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pill-vs-pillar)
- **pilar** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pilar-vs-pillar)
- **Pallas** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pallas-vs-pillar)
- **pillage** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pillage-vs-pillar)

## Common misspellings (6)
`ipllar`, `pilalr`, `pillarr`, `pillra`, `plilar`, `ppillar`

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