# shelter

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈʃɛltə/ · frequency rank #4,712

## Definitions
1. Somewhere one can find protection.
2. Somewhere one can find protection.
3. Somewhere one can find protection.
4. Somewhere one can find protection.
5. Somewhere one can find protection.
6. That which provides protection or cover.
7. The state of being protected or shielded.

## Etymology
From Middle English sheltron, sheldtrume (“roof or wall formed by locked shields”), from Old English sċildtruma, sċyldtruma (“a phalanx, company (of troops), a tortoise, a covering, shed, shelter”, literally “shield-troop”), from sċyld, sċield (“shield”) + truma (“a troop of soldiers”). Cognate with Scots schilthrum, schiltrum. More at shield, and Old English trymman (“to strengthen”), from trum (“strong, firm”) at trim.
Doublet of sheltron (a kind of military formation), which is the more conservative of the two.

## Easily confused with
- **shorter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shelter-vs-shorter)
- **shooter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shelter-vs-shooter)
- **sweater** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shelter-vs-sweater)
- **shelves** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shelter-vs-shelves)
- **shutter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shelter-vs-shutter)
- **Shelton** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shelter-vs-shelton)
- **specter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shelter-vs-specter)
- **shifter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shelter-vs-shifter)
- **smelter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shelter-vs-smelter)
- **sheltered** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shelter-vs-sheltered)
- **sheer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sheer-vs-shelter)
- **seller** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/seller-vs-shelter)
- **seater** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/seater-vs-shelter)
- **setter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/setter-vs-shelter)
- **salter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/salter-vs-shelter)
- **Shelley** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shelley-vs-shelter)
- **shatter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shatter-vs-shelter)
- **shelled** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shelled-vs-shelter)
- **shearer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shearer-vs-shelter)
- **scepter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scepter-vs-shelter)

## Common misspellings (11)
`hselter`, `sehlter`, `sheletr`, `shellter`, `shelterr`, `sheltre`, `sheltter`, `shetler`, `shhelter`, `shleter`, `sshelter`

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