to say the least
"to-say-the-least" is a 13-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“to say the least” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as an adverb. The kind of spelling people second-guess.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 16
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Used to suggest an understatement.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | to say the least |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Adverb |
| Letters | 16 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “to say the least” sits in English frequency
Rare enough to double-check
to say the least is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as anadverb. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. Gloss: "Used to suggest an understatement.".
We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for to say the least, since its letter sequence doesn't invite the usual edit-distance slips. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, which tends to mean the word is visually distinctive enough to stand on its own.
This entry's etymology isn't recorded, so its spelling pattern is best understood through pronunciation rather than a traceable origin. The correct English form is to say the least, spelled T-O- -S-A-Y- -T-H-E- -L-E-A-S-T.
Definition
- 1Used to suggest an understatement.
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 “to say the least”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is T-O- -S-A-Y- -T-H-E- -L-E-A-S-T - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- 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.