stipulate

/ˈstɪpjuˌleɪt/

//ˈstɪpjuˌleɪt// verb

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

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

The verdict

“stipulate” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #38,634 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#38,634
frequency rank, English
9
letters
13
tracked misspellings
4
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To require (something) as a condition of a contract or agreement.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

stipulate vs stipulated
90% similar
stipulate vs simulate
78% similar
stipulate vs stimulate
89% similar

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

Key facts for stipulate
PropertyValue
Headwordstipulate
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ˈstɪpjuˌleɪt/
Letters9
Frequency rank#38,634
Misspellings tracked13
Confusable pairs4
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “stipulate” 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). stipulate 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 stipulate is 9 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈstɪpjuˌleɪt/. Corpus data places it at rank #38,634 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 5 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 13 likely wrong-spelling variants for stipulate, with forms such as "sitpulate", "sstipulate", and "stipluate". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 4 confusable-pair relationships, "stipulated", "simulate", "stimulate", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Latin stipulātus, perfect active participle of stipulor (“to demand a formal promise, stipulate”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix). The correct English form is stipulate, spelled S-T-I-P-U-L-A-T-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To require (something) as a condition of a contract or agreement.
  2. 2
    To specify, promise or guarantee something in an agreement.
  3. 3
    To acknowledge the truth of; not to challenge.
  4. 4
    To ask for a contractual term.
  5. 5
    To mutually agree.

Etymology

From Latin stipulātus, perfect active participle of stipulor (“to demand a formal promise, stipulate”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix).

This word in other languages

estipular(Español)stipuler(Français)stipulieren(Deutsch)estipular(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: sitpulate,sstipulate,stipluate,stippulate,stipualte,stipulaet,stipulatte,stipullate,stipultae,stiuplate,stpiulate,sttipulate,tsipulate

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of stipulate - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

sitpulate2sstipulate1stipluate2stippulate1stipualte2stipulaet2stipulatte1stipullate1
Edit distance from "stipulate"

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 "stipulate"?
"stipulate" is spelled S-T-I-P-U-L-A-T-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈstɪpjuˌleɪt/.
What does "stipulate" mean?
As a verb, "stipulate" means: To require (something) as a condition of a contract or agreement.
What words are commonly confused with "stipulate"?
"stipulate" is commonly confused with "stipulated", "simulate", "stimulate". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "stipulate"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "stipulate" is /ˈstɪpjuˌleɪt/. 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 "stipulate"?
From Latin stipulātus, perfect active participle of stipulor (“to demand a formal promise, stipulate”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix). 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 “stipulate”

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

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