pixel

/ˈpɪk.səl/

//ˈpɪk.səl// noun

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

"pixel" is a 5-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“pixel” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #10,909 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#10,909
frequency rank, English
5
letters
7
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - One of the tiny dots that make up the representation of an image in a computer's memory.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

pixel vs pixie
60% similar
pixel vs pie
60% similar
pixel vs Pil
40% similar

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

Key facts for pixel
PropertyValue
Headwordpixel
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈpɪk.səl/
Letters5
Frequency rank#10,909
Misspellings tracked7
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “pixel” 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). pixel 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 pixel is 5 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈpɪk.səl/. Corpus data places it at rank #10,909 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 7 likely wrong-spelling variants for pixel, with forms such as "ipxel", "piexl", and "pixell". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. It also participates in 20 confusable-pair relationships, "pixie", "pie", "Pil", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: pix (“pictures”), + el(ement); often taken to be a blend of “picture” and “element”. The ⟨x⟩ stems from the abbreviation pics being sometimes also written as pix, which has been in use since the 1880s. First attested in 1965. The correct English form is pixel, spelled P-I-X-E-L.

Definition

  1. 1
    One of the tiny dots that make up the representation of an image in a computer's memory.
  2. 2
    One of the squares that make up a work of pixel art or a zoomed-in image in a computer.
  3. 3
    A unit of measure used in screen displays, resolutions, and similar visual media that represents either linear measure or area.

Etymology

pix (“pictures”), + el(ement); often taken to be a blend of “picture” and “element”. The ⟨x⟩ stems from the abbreviation pics being sometimes also written as pix, which has been in use since the 1880s. First attested in 1965.

Synonyms

pelpictelpx

This word in other languages

píxel(Español)pixel(Français)Pixel(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ipxel,piexl,pixell,pixle,pixxel,ppixel,pxiel

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

ipxel2piexl2pixell1pixle2pixxel1ppixel1pxiel2
Edit distance from "pixel"

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 "pixel"?
"pixel" is spelled P-I-X-E-L. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈpɪk.səl/.
What does "pixel" mean?
As a noun, "pixel" means: One of the tiny dots that make up the representation of an image in a computer's memory.
What words are commonly confused with "pixel"?
"pixel" is commonly confused with "pixie", "pie", "Pil". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "pixel"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "pixel" is /ˈpɪk.səl/. 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 "pixel"?
pix (“pictures”), + el(ement); often taken to be a blend of “picture” and “element”. The ⟨x⟩ stems from the abbreviation pics being sometimes also written as pix, which has been in use since the 1880s. First attested in 1965. 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 “pixel”

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

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