slipstream

/ˈslɪp.stɹiːm/

//ˈslɪp.stɹiːm// noun

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

"slipstream" is a 10-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“slipstream” is uncommon English (frequency #52,002 among 54,294 “S” headwords), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#52,002
frequency rank, English
54,294
“S” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The low-pressure zone immediately following a rapidly moving object, caused by turbulence.

Key facts for slipstream
PropertyValue
Headwordslipstream
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈslɪp.stɹiːm/
Letters10
Frequency rank#52,002
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “slipstream” 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). slipstream lands here:

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

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

Rare enough to double-check

slipstream is uncommon English at frequency #52,002 among 54,294 “S” headwords, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈslɪp.stɹiːm/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 5 senses are on record.

Zero misspellings are on record for slipstream in our index, which points to an orthography that plays by predictable English rules. No close-neighbour confusable shows up for this headword in our dataset, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

Etymologically, the entry records: Compound of slip + stream. Fiction sense coined by cyberpunk author Bruce Sterling in 1989. The correct English form is slipstream, spelled S-L-I-P-S-T-R-E-A-M.

Definition

  1. 1
    The low-pressure zone immediately following a rapidly moving object, caused by turbulence.
  2. 2
    A generated advantage which makes forward movement easier.
  3. 3
    The relative wind experienced as a result of movement through air.
  4. 4
    The airflow over a propeller-driven aircraft generated by the motion of its propeller(s).
  5. 5
    A genre of fantastic or non-realistic fiction that crosses conventional genre boundaries.

Etymology

Compound of slip + stream. Fiction sense coined by cyberpunk author Bruce Sterling in 1989.

This word in other languages

rebufo(Español)Sog(Deutsch)

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 "slipstream"?
"slipstream" is spelled S-L-I-P-S-T-R-E-A-M. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈslɪp.stɹiːm/.
What does "slipstream" mean?
As a noun, "slipstream" means: The low-pressure zone immediately following a rapidly moving object, caused by turbulence.
How do you pronounce "slipstream"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "slipstream" is /ˈslɪp.stɹiːm/. 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 "slipstream"?
Compound of slip + stream. Fiction sense coined by cyberpunk author Bruce Sterling in 1989. 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 “slipstream”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is S-L-I-P-S-T-R-E-A-M - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈslɪp.stɹiːm/ (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

Other uncommon English words near this rank

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