wipe out

verb

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

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

The verdict

“wipe out” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a verb - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
8
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To destroy (especially, a large number or complete set of people or things); to obliterate.

Key facts for wipe out
PropertyValue
Headwordwipe out
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
Letters8
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “wipe out” sits in English frequency

wipe out falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for wipe out is 8 letters long, classified as a verb. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 7 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

No generated misspelling entries exist for wipe out in our index, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

Our source data has no etymology on file for this entry, so its spelling is best read as a straightforward mapping from sound to letter. The correct English form is wipe out, spelled W-I-P-E- -O-U-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    To destroy (especially, a large number or complete set of people or things); to obliterate.
  2. 2
    To physically erase (writing, computer data, etc.).
  3. 3
    To do away with; to cause to disappear.
  4. 4
    To exhaust (someone); to tire (them) out.
  5. 5
    To bankrupt (a person or company); to empty (a bank account); to erase (a bank balance).
  6. 6
    To crash; to fall over or fall off (especially in board sports such as surfing, skateboarding, etc.).
  7. 7
    To knock (a surfer) off their board.

This word in other languages

aniquilar(Español)anéantir(Français)auslöschen(Deutsch)aniquilar(Português)

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

How do you spell "wipe out"?
"wipe out" is spelled W-I-P-E- -O-U-T.
What does "wipe out" mean?
As a verb, "wipe out" means: To destroy (especially, a large number or complete set of people or things); to obliterate.
What language does "wipe out" come from?
"wipe out" is a English word. PlainSpell's reference spans five languages -- English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German -- with definitions, pronunciations, and spelling data for each.
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 “wipe out”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is W-I-P-E- -O-U-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.

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list