relax

/ɹɪˈlæks/

//ɹɪˈlæks// verb

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

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

The verdict

“relax” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #4,403 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#4,403
frequency rank, English
5
letters
7
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To make something loose.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

relax vs rex
60% similar
relax vs rely
60% similar
relax vs Reza
40% similar

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

Key facts for relax
PropertyValue
Headwordrelax
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ɹɪˈlæks/
Letters5
Frequency rank#4,403
Misspellings tracked7
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “relax” 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). relax 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 relax is 5 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɹɪˈlæks/. Corpus data places it at rank #4,403 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 9 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 relax, with forms such as "erlax", "realx", and "relaxx". 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, "rex", "rely", "Reza", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English relaxen, from Old French relaxer, from Latin relaxāre (“relax, loosen, open”), from re- (“back”) + laxāre (“loosen”), from laxus (“loose, free”). By surface analysis, re- + lax (“open, free, loose”). The correct English form is relax, spelled R-E-L-A-X.

Definition

  1. 1
    To make something loose.
  2. 2
    To make something loose.
  3. 3
    To become loose.
  4. 4
    To relieve (someone or someone's mind) of stress; to enable to rest; to calm down.
  5. 5
    To rest and become relieved of stress.
  6. 6
    To make something less severe or tense.
  7. 7
    To become less severe or tense.
  8. 8
    To make something (such as codes and regulations) more lenient.
  9. 9
    To become more lenient.

Etymology

From Middle English relaxen, from Old French relaxer, from Latin relaxāre (“relax, loosen, open”), from re- (“back”) + laxāre (“loosen”), from laxus (“loose, free”). By surface analysis, re- + lax (“open, free, loose”).

Antonyms

stressexcite

This word in other languages

relajar(Español)relâcher(Français)lockern(Deutsch)soltar(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: erlax,realx,relaxx,rellax,relxa,rleax,rrelax

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of relax - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

erlax2realx2relaxx1rellax1relxa2rleax2rrelax1
Edit distance from "relax"

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 "relax"?
"relax" is spelled R-E-L-A-X. The IPA pronunciation is /ɹɪˈlæks/.
What does "relax" mean?
As a verb, "relax" means: To make something loose.
What words are commonly confused with "relax"?
"relax" is commonly confused with "rex", "rely", "Reza". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "relax"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "relax" is /ɹɪˈlæks/. 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 "relax"?
From Middle English relaxen, from Old French relaxer, from Latin relaxāre (“relax, loosen, open”), from re- (“back”) + laxāre (“loosen”), from laxus (“loose, free”). By surface analysis, re- + lax (“open, free, loose”). 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 “relax”

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

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