windage

/ˈwɪndɪd͡ʒ/

//ˈwɪndɪd͡ʒ// noun

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

"windage" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“windage” is uncommon English (frequency #94,440 among 12,113 “W” headwords), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#94,440
frequency rank, English
12,113
“W” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Drag on the crankshaft caused by oil splashing out of the sump when rotating at high speeds.

Key facts for windage
PropertyValue
Headwordwindage
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈwɪndɪd͡ʒ/
Letters7
Frequency rank#94,440
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “windage” 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). windage lands here:

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

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

windage is uncommon English at frequency #94,440 among 12,113 “W” headwords, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈwɪndɪd͡ʒ/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 5 senses are on record.

No generated misspelling entries exist for windage in our index, suggesting the orthography follows predictable English patterns. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

Etymologically, the entry records: From wind + -age. The correct English form is windage, spelled W-I-N-D-A-G-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    Drag on the crankshaft caused by oil splashing out of the sump when rotating at high speeds.
  2. 2
    The difference in diameter between the bore of a firearm and the shot.
  3. 3
    Horizontal adjustment of the sight of a firearm or bow.
  4. 4
    A contusion caused by a projectile that does not enter the skin, due to either compressed air or a glancing blow
  5. 5
    Exposure to the wind.

Etymology

From wind + -age.

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 "windage"?
"windage" is spelled W-I-N-D-A-G-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈwɪndɪd͡ʒ/.
What does "windage" mean?
As a noun, "windage" means: Drag on the crankshaft caused by oil splashing out of the sump when rotating at high speeds.
How do you pronounce "windage"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "windage" is /ˈwɪndɪd͡ʒ/. 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 "windage"?
From wind + -age. 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 “windage”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is W-I-N-D-A-G-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈwɪndɪd͡ʒ/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Other uncommon English words near this rank

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