solicitude
/səˈlɪsɪˌt(j)uːd/
"solicitude" is a 10-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“solicitude” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a noun - the kind of word writers most often double-check.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 10
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The state of being solicitous; uneasiness of mind occasioned by fear of evil or desire for good; anxiety.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | solicitude |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Noun |
| IPA | /səˈlɪsɪˌt(j)uːd/ |
| Letters | 10 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “solicitude” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for solicitude is 10 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /səˈlɪsɪˌt(j)uːd/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.
We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for solicitude, suggesting the orthography follows predictable English patterns. Our dataset records no confusable match here, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.
Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English solicitude, from Old French sollicitude, from Latin sollicitūdō (“anxiety”), from sollicitus, solicitus (“anxious, solicitous”). See solicitous. The correct English form is solicitude, spelled S-O-L-I-C-I-T-U-D-E.
Definition
- 1The state of being solicitous; uneasiness of mind occasioned by fear of evil or desire for good; anxiety.
- 2Special or pronounced concern or attention.
- 3A cause of anxiety or concern.
Etymology
From Middle English solicitude, from Old French sollicitude, from Latin sollicitūdō (“anxiety”), from sollicitus, solicitus (“anxious, solicitous”). See solicitous.
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 “solicitude”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is S-O-L-I-C-I-T-U-D-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /səˈlɪsɪˌt(j)uːd/ (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.