strafe

/stɹeɪf/

//stɹeɪf// verb

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

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

The verdict

“strafe” is uncommon English (frequency #87,869 among 6,566 “S” headwords), classed as a verb. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#87,869
frequency rank, English
6,566
“S” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - To attack (ground targets) with automatic gunfire from a low-flying aircraft.

Corpus desk

Index EN-strafe · strafe · English

strafe · rank #87,869 · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-RARE #87,869
  • LEN-LONG 6 letters
  • VOW-2 2 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-DENSE 6,566
  • PHOTO-FINISH str8

Nearest frequency peer: str8 (-1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Long-tail ranks near “strafe”

Sparse band: bars invert rank so rarer forms read shorter

corpus weight

What this shows Long-tail view: where “strafe” sits against similarly uncommon English ranks.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026
Key facts for strafe
PropertyValue
Headwordstrafe
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/stɹeɪf/
Letters6
Frequency rank#87,869
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “strafe” in English

This scale runs from the tiny cluster of words that carry ordinary speech (left) to the long tail of words almost nobody reaches for (right).strafefalls in this rarity band:

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

Ticks step logarithmically, so each one marks a roughly tenfold drop in how often the word turns up. Rare peers in the same band: “str8” (#87,868), “Strathcona” (#87,870), “stomata” (#87,867). Among 6,566 “S” headwords, “strafe” is #87,869. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

strafe is uncommon English at frequency #87,869 among 6,566 “S” headwords, classed as averb, transcribed /stɹeɪf/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 4 senses are on record.

We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for strafe, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: From German strafe (“punish”) (a conjugated form of strafen), from phrases like Gott strafe England (“God punish England”) which the British saw during the First World War. The correct English form is strafe, spelled S-T-R-A-F-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To attack (ground targets) with automatic gunfire from a low-flying aircraft.
  2. 2
    To rake (a target) with rapid or automatic gunfire.
  3. 3
    To reprimand severely.
  4. 4
    To sidestep; to move sideways without turning (a core mechanic of most first-person shooters).

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how strafe appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. These should be especially useful against low-flying planes that "strafe" infantry and transport columns with machine-gun fire and light bombs.
  2. Laffey, fresh off from strafing Hiei, ran straight into a quarter of the Japanese navy's remaining destroyers, and, along with Kirishima, between gunfire and another successful Type 93 torpedo strike that tore off the ship's stern, the hapless destroyer was left drifting, ablaze, and would eventually sink.

Etymology

From German strafe (“punish”) (a conjugated form of strafen), from phrases like Gott strafe England (“God punish England”) which the British saw during the First World War.

This word in other languages

ametrallar(Español)mitrailler(Français)

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 "strafe"?
"strafe" is spelled S-T-R-A-F-E. The IPA pronunciation is /stɹeɪf/.
What does "strafe" mean?
As a verb, "strafe" means: To attack (ground targets) with automatic gunfire from a low-flying aircraft.
How do you pronounce "strafe"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "strafe" is /stɹeɪf/. 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 "strafe"?
From German strafe (“punish”) (a conjugated form of strafen), from phrases like Gott strafe England (“God punish England”) which the British saw during the First World War. 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.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "strafe", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 6 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

sterol#87,866souled#87,850Solari#87,847tarsal#87,895

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list