défiler

\de.fi.le\

/\de.fi.le\/ verb

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

The verdict

“défiler” has 11 generated spelling variants in the French index at frequency #12,365. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#12,365
frequency rank, French
404,891
“D” headwords
11
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Détacher une chose du fil du cordon où elle était passée.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

défiler vs dévier
71% similar
défiler vs denier
57% similar
défiler vs délier
71% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for défiler
PropertyValue
Headworddéfiler
LanguageFrench
Part of speechVerb
IPA\de.fi.le\
Letters7
Frequency rank#12,365
Misspellings tracked11
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “défiler” sits in French 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). défiler lands here:

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

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

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 11 spelling variants around défiler (IPA \de.fi.le\), averb. Corpus frequency is #12,365 among 404,891 “D” headwords. Wiktionary lists 10 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 11 likely wrong-spelling variants for défiler, with forms such as "ddéfiler", "defiler", and "dféiler". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. It also participates in 20 confusable-pair relationships, "dévier", "denier", "délier", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

No documented word history exists for this headword, so any spelling logic here comes from how the word's sounds map to letters, not a documented origin story. The correct French form is défiler, spelled D-É-F-I-L-E-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    Détacher une chose du fil du cordon où elle était passée.
  2. 2
    Énumérer en enfilade, comme on récite les grains d’un chapelet.
  3. 3
    Aller en file.
  4. 4
    Exhiber, en marchant, des atours de mode.
  5. 5
    Marcher, en file nombreuse, dans les rues, pour revendiquer.
  6. 6
    Se dit d’un lieu où de nombreuses personnes passent régulièrement.
  7. 7
    Faire faire un mouvement à des troupes pour les voir plus en détail.
  8. 8
    Disposer les hommes d'une troupe de façon à éviter l’enfilade du feu ennemi.
  9. 9
    Couvrir sa marche à la faveur d’un abri.
  10. 10
    Se dérober.

This word in other languages

string(English)desgranar(Español)defilieren(Deutsch)desfilar(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • ddéfiler
  • defiler
  • dféiler
  • déffiler
  • défielr
  • défilerr
  • défiller
  • défilre
  • déflier
  • déifler
  • édfiler

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of défiler - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

ddéfiler1defiler1dféiler2déffiler1défielr2défilerr1défiller1défilre2
Edit distance from "défiler"

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 French corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "défiler"?
"défiler" is spelled D-É-F-I-L-E-R. The IPA pronunciation is \de.fi.le\.
What does "défiler" mean?
As a verb, "défiler" means: Détacher une chose du fil du cordon où elle était passée.
What words are commonly confused with "défiler"?
"défiler" is commonly confused with "dévier", "denier", "délier". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "défiler"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "défiler" is \de.fi.le\. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "défiler" come from?
"défiler" is a French 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 “défiler”

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

  • The one correct French spelling is D-É-F-I-L-E-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as \de.fi.le\ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “dévier” - see the side-by-side comparison. défiler vs dévier
  • Browse more French words and confusable pairs in the same reference. French words

Same frequency band

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