wigwag
wig·wag/ˈwɪɡˌwæɡ/noun, verb, adverb
wigwag is spelled W-I-G-W-A-G: 6 letters and 2 syllables (wig·wag). It appears about once in every 85 million words in written English, the 293,966th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, wigwag means “Any of a number of mechanical or electrical devices which cause a component to oscillate between two states” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of wigwag is wigwags.
How many letters and syllables are in wigwag?
| Letters | 6: W-I-G-W-A-G |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: wig·wag |
| In writing | about once in every 85 million words; the 293,966th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Sounds like |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is wigwag?
Wigwag appears about once in every 85 million words in written English, the 293,966th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce wigwag?
- UK /ˈwɪɡwaɡ/
- US /ˈwɪɡˌwæɡ/
Wigwag has 2 syllables, split wig·wag in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-wigwag.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Words people confuse with wigwag
Sounds like: WGWAG (Wiktionary's homophone list; some hold only in some accents).
Sources: English Wiktionary (homophones, alternative spellings).
Forms of wigwag
- wigwags plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- wig-wag
- wigwagging participle, present
- wigwagged participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does wigwag mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
Any of a number of mechanical or electrical devices which cause a component to oscillate between two states.
- 2
A device that causes one or more lights to flash in a preset pattern.
- 3
A red light near the door of a sound stage that flashes to indicate that cameras are rolling inside the stage and that all people and vehicles outside should remain quiet; a red-eye.
- 4
A device used to cause lamps installed on a motor vehicle, especially an emergency vehicle such as an ambulance or police car, to flash as a warning.
- 5
A device with multiple (often two), alternately flashing lights which is installed at a railway level crossing (or grade crossing), a movable bridge, etc., to warn vehicular traffic to stop.
- 6
An instrument that creates a wigwagging motion for polishing.
- 7
A warning device inside the cabin of a truck that causes a mechanical arm to drop into view when the pressure in the airbrake system of the truck becomes too low for the brakes to be reliably deployed.
- 8
USA grade crossing signal with a swinging motion used to indicate an approaching train.
verb
- 1
To move gently in one direction and then another; to wig or wiggle, to wag or waggle.
- 2
An act of wigwagging.
- 3
To oscillate between two states.
- 4
USTo send a signal by waving a flag to and fro.
adverb
- 1
With a wigwagging or to-and-fro motion.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Where does wigwag come from?
From wig (“to wag, waggle”) + wag (“to swing”). The noun is derived from the verb.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).