slingshot

/ˈslɪŋʃɒt/

//ˈslɪŋʃɒt// noun

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

"slingshot" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“slingshot” has 15 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #30,972. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#30,972
frequency rank, English
54,294
“S” headwords
15
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A Y-shaped stick with an elastic sling between the arms used for shooting small projectiles.

Key facts for slingshot
PropertyValue
Headwordslingshot
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈslɪŋʃɒt/
Letters9
Frequency rank#30,972
Misspellings tracked15
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “slingshot” 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). slingshot lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 15 spelling variants around slingshot (IPA /ˈslɪŋʃɒt/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #30,972 among 54,294 “S” headwords. Wiktionary lists 6 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 15 likely wrong-spelling variants for slingshot, with forms such as "lsingshot", "silngshot", and "slignshot". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. No close-neighbour confusable shows up for this headword in our dataset, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

Etymologically, the entry records: From sling + shot. The correct English form is slingshot, spelled S-L-I-N-G-S-H-O-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    A Y-shaped stick with an elastic sling between the arms used for shooting small projectiles.
  2. 2
    A stationary, often triangular object that launches any ball that hits its longest side back at a high force, now usually located above the flipper and between it and the inlane, with one each for both lower flippers.
  3. 3
    A sling bikini.
  4. 4
    An implement of a broad fabric worn around and connecting both bicipites brachii to support benching the most heavy weights.
  5. 5
    The act of passing cars queuing in the left-hand lane and using the right-hand lane to go around a roundabout, exiting at the desired junction having avoided the queue.
  6. 6
    Synonym of slingshot effect.

Etymology

From sling + shot.

Synonyms

bean shootercatapultfliphand catapultshanghai

This word in other languages

baladora(Español)lance-pierre(Français)Schleuder(Deutsch)estilingue(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • lsingshot
  • silngshot
  • slignshot
  • slinggshot
  • slinghsot
  • slingshhot
  • slingshott
  • slingshto
  • slingsoht
  • slingsshot
  • slinngshot
  • slinsghot
  • sllingshot
  • slnigshot
  • sslingshot

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of slingshot - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

lsingshot2silngshot2slignshot2slinggshot1slinghsot2slingshhot1slingshott1slingshto2
Edit distance from "slingshot"

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 "slingshot"?
"slingshot" is spelled S-L-I-N-G-S-H-O-T. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈslɪŋʃɒt/.
What does "slingshot" mean?
As a noun, "slingshot" means: A Y-shaped stick with an elastic sling between the arms used for shooting small projectiles.
What are common misspellings of "slingshot"?
Common misspellings include "lsingshot", "silngshot", "slignshot", "slinggshot", "slinghsot". The correct spelling is "slingshot".
How do you pronounce "slingshot"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "slingshot" is /ˈslɪŋʃɒt/. 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 "slingshot"?
From sling + shot. 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 “slingshot”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is S-L-I-N-G-S-H-O-T - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈslɪŋʃɒt/ (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

Same frequency band

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