Primary source
The list is generated from the English Speller Database (ESDB), previously known as SCOWLv2. ESDB combines structured spelling information from several sources and assigns approximate size tiers, spelling regions, variants, parts of speech, and usage notes.
- Source commit
- 1e5b7d3a72f47a71da5d28686c1dd4b397178485
- Source date
- June 24, 2026
- Bundled results
- 8,661 unique words
- Processing
- Static, build-time generation
Selection rules
We extract ESDB size tiers 35, 50, 60, 70, and 80 using American spelling code A and variant level 4. Diacritical marks are normalized, and only entries consisting of exactly five letters from A through Z are retained.
The generation step excludes abbreviations and entries categorized by ESDB as nonwords, special items, or word parts. It also omits entries carrying ESDB’s level 1 or 2 offensive or vulgar usage flags. Results are de-duplicated before they are bundled with the site.
These filters reduce noise; they do not turn the list into a child-directed dictionary or guarantee that every potentially sensitive, historical, regional, or specialist term has been identified.
Common-first ordering and scores
The default result order follows the ESDB size tiers from smaller to larger, with alphabetical ordering inside each tier. A smaller tier generally represents broader usage, so this provides a useful common-first approximation. It is not a precise corpus frequency ranking.
The A–Z option sorts the complete matching result alphabetically. The Score option adds standard English-language Scrabble-style tile values and sorts highest first. The score does not include a game board, multipliers, rack bonuses, or a publisher-specific dictionary check.
What this list does not claim
- It is not an official Scrabble, Words With Friends, Wordle, crossword, or school vocabulary list.
- It does not prove that a particular game accepts a word.
- It does not contain definitions, pronunciations, or usage examples.
- It favors American spelling and may omit valid spellings from other regions.
- Its common-first order is a tiered approximation, not a promise about everyday frequency.
Corrections and updates
Corrections are reviewed against the source data and reliable language references. If you report a word, include the spelling, the expected behavior, a supporting source, and whether your concern is general English or one named game dictionary.
Send sourced reports to contact@5letterwords.online. Future source updates will be recorded here with a revised source version and page date.
ESDB license notice
Copyright 2000–2026 by Kevin Atkinson. Permission to use, copy, modify, distribute, and sell any part of ESDB, or word lists created from it, is granted without fee provided the required copyright and permission notices are retained. The database is provided “as is” without express or implied warranty.
This is a concise presentation for visitors. The project repository retains the complete notice and source notes in THIRD_PARTY_NOTICES.md. The authoritative current notice is available in the ESDB source repository.