squint

/skwɪnt/

//skwɪnt// verb

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

"squint" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“squint” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #37,233 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#37,233
frequency rank, English
6
letters
9
tracked misspellings
16
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To look with the eyes partly closed, as in bright sunlight, or as a threatening expression.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

squint vs suit
67% similar
squint vs stunt
67% similar
squint vs stint
67% similar

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

Key facts for squint
PropertyValue
Headwordsquint
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/skwɪnt/
Letters6
Frequency rank#37,233
Misspellings tracked9
Confusable pairs16
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “squint” 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). squint 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 squint is 6 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /skwɪnt/. Corpus data places it at rank #37,233 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 6 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 9 likely wrong-spelling variants for squint, with forms such as "qsuint", "sqiunt", and "sqquint". 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 16 confusable-pair relationships, "suit", "stunt", "stint", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: Derived from asquint (“obliquely, with a sidelong glance”). The correct English form is squint, spelled S-Q-U-I-N-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    To look with the eyes partly closed, as in bright sunlight, or as a threatening expression.
  2. 2
    To look or glance sideways.
  3. 3
    To look with, or have eyes that are turned in different directions; to suffer from strabismus.
  4. 4
    To have an indirect bearing, reference, or implication; to have an allusion to, or inclination towards, something.
  5. 5
    To be not quite straight, off-centred; to deviate from a true line; to run obliquely.
  6. 6
    To turn to an oblique position; to direct obliquely.

Etymology

Derived from asquint (“obliquely, with a sidelong glance”).

Synonyms

skelly

This word in other languages

bizquear(Español)plisser les yeux(Français)blinzeln(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: qsuint,sqiunt,sqquint,squinnt,squintt,squitn,squnit,ssquint,suqint

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of squint - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

qsuint2sqiunt2sqquint1squinnt1squintt1squitn2squnit2ssquint1
Edit distance from "squint"

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 "squint"?
"squint" is spelled S-Q-U-I-N-T. The IPA pronunciation is /skwɪnt/.
What does "squint" mean?
As a verb, "squint" means: To look with the eyes partly closed, as in bright sunlight, or as a threatening expression.
What words are commonly confused with "squint"?
"squint" is commonly confused with "suit", "stunt", "stint". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "squint"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "squint" is /skwɪnt/. 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 "squint"?
Derived from asquint (“obliquely, with a sidelong glance”). 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 “squint”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is S-Q-U-I-N-T - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /skwɪnt/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “suit” - see the side-by-side comparison. squint vs suit
  • 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