# strait

> English word · Adjective · IPA /stɹeɪt/ · frequency rank #13,066

## Definitions
1. Narrow; restricted as to space or room; close.
2. Righteous, strict.
3. Tight; close; tight-fitting.
4. Close; intimate; near; familiar.
5. Difficult; distressful.
6. Parsimonious; stingy; mean.
7. Obsolete spelling of straight, now a misspelling of straight.

## Etymology
From Middle English streit, from Old French estreit (modern form étroit), from Latin strictus, perfect passive participle of stringō (“compress, tighten”). Doublet of stretto and strict.

## Easily confused with
- **strip** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/strait-vs-strip)
- **straw** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/strait-vs-straw)
- **strap** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/strait-vs-strap)
- **stray** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/strait-vs-stray)
- **strut** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/strait-vs-strut)
- **strat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/strait-vs-strat)
- **street** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/strait-vs-street)
- **strict** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/strait-vs-strict)
- **Stuart** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/strait-vs-stuart)
- **strand** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/strait-vs-strand)
- **strata** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/strait-vs-strata)
- **Straus** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/strait-vs-straus)
- **Straits** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/strait-vs-straits)
- **stat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/stat-vs-strait)
- **start** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/start-vs-strait)
- **stain** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/stain-vs-strait)
- **stair** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/stair-vs-strait)
- **staid** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/staid-vs-strait)
- **strain** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/strain-vs-strait)
- **sprain** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sprain-vs-strait)

## Common misspellings (9)
`srtait`, `sstrait`, `starit`, `straitt`, `strati`, `striat`, `strrait`, `sttrait`, `tsrait`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/strait