Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

interpellate

/ˌɪn.təɹˈpɛl.eɪt/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 0.00 in modern English

Syllables: in-ter-pel-late
IPA: /ˌɪn.təɹˈpɛl.eɪt/

14

Scrabble Score

12

Letters

4

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To interrupt (someone) so as to inform or question (that person about something).

Obsolete

verb

To address (a person) in a way that presupposes a particular identification of them; to give (a person) an identity (which may or may not be accurate).

verb

To question (someone) formally concerning official or governmental policy or business.

Transitive verb

Example Sentences

"[…] a Master of Ceremonies' words "Ladies and gentlemen" […] interpellates those being addressed as an audience, and one that is differentiated by gender."
"[…] the question may be whether the individual should let herself be interpellated as a feminist, a Christian or a worker. Perhaps all of these possibilities seem attractive, but they point in different directions […]"
"[…] whereas the Palestinian subjects are interpellated as: the martyr... a young Palestinian... a Palestinian teenager."
"After the gentleman and Senator [Mariano Jesús] Cuenco interpellated me, I knew already that my bill was hopeless. That is why I presented that bill on February 4th, but it slept the sleep of the just in the Committee on Education."

Etymology

First attested in 1599; borrowed from Latin interpellātus, perfect passive participle of interpellō, see -ate (verb-forming suffix). Cognate with French interpeller.

Origin

First known use: First attested in 1599

Word Breakdown

Root: *pel- (beat)

Usage

Inflected Forms

interpellates (present, singular) interpellating (participle, present) interpellated (participle, past) interpellated (past)

Derived Forms

interpellator interpellation

Frequently Paired Words

interpolate interpel

Homonyms

interpolate (some pronunciations)

Questions

How do you pronounce interpellate?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˌɪn.təɹˈpɛl.eɪt/.
What does interpellate mean?: To interrupt (someone) so as to inform or question (that person about something).
Where does interpellate come from?: First known use: First attested in 1599.

How to pronounce interpellate

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “interpellate”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˌɪn.təɹˈpɛl.eɪt/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “interpellate”.
Repeat and practice — Say “interpellate” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.