prolix
/ˈpɹəʊ.lɪks/
"prolix" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“prolix” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as an adjective - the kind of word writers most often double-check.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 6
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Tediously lengthy; dwelling on trivial details.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | prolix |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Adjective |
| IPA | /ˈpɹəʊ.lɪks/ |
| Letters | 6 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “prolix” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for prolix is 6 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈpɹəʊ.lɪks/. 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.
No generated misspelling entries exist for prolix in our index, which points to an orthography that plays by predictable English rules. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, which typically means the spelling is too distinctive to be mistaken for another word.
Etymologically, the entry records: From Old French prolixe, from Latin prōlixus (“stretched out; courteous, favorable”). The verb is derived from the adjective. The correct English form is prolix, spelled P-R-O-L-I-X.
Definition
- 1Tediously lengthy; dwelling on trivial details.
- 2Long; having great length.
Etymology
From Old French prolixe, from Latin prōlixus (“stretched out; courteous, favorable”). The verb is derived from the adjective.
Antonyms
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
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Using “prolix”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is P-R-O-L-I-X - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /ˈpɹəʊ.lɪks/ (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.