l

1 of 4

noun

ˈel 

variants often L

plural l's or ls ˈelz 

often attributive

1

a

: the 12th letter of the English alphabet

b

: a graphic representation of this letter

c

: a speech counterpart of orthographic l

2

: fifty see Table of Numbers

3

: a graphic device for reproducing the letter l

4

: one designated l especially as the 12th in order or class

5

: something shaped like the letter L

specifically : ell entry 2 sense 1

6

: el entry 2

l

2 of 4

abbreviation (1)

1

lady

2

lake

3

lambert

4

land

5

large

6

late

7

left

8

length

9

[Latin libra] pound

10

line

11

liquid

12

lira

13

liter

14

little

15

low

L

3 of 4

abbreviation (2)

1

Lagrangian

2

long

3

loss; losses

l-

4 of 4

prefix

1

ˌlē-(ˌ)vō, 

ˌel, 

ˈel

: levorotatory

l-tartaric acid

2

ˌel, 

ˈel

: having a similar configuration at a selected carbon atom to the configuration of levorotatory glyceraldehyde

—usually printed as a small capital

l-fructose

Examples of l in a Sentence

Noun

a word that starts with an l

a word that starts with l

Abbreviation (1)

The area of a rectangle is L x W.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The researchers also found that existing treatments for Parkinson’s, including the medication levodopa (also known as L-DOPA), as well as brain stimulation, decreased the circuit’s connectivity, making the brains of people with the condition look more like those of healthy people. —Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 4 Feb. 2026

Avoid taking l-theanine while pregnant or breastfeeding. —T'keyah Bazin, Verywell Health, 4 Feb. 2026

Green tea has caffeine and L-theanine (an amino acid), both of which improve alertness. —Merve Ceylan, Health, 3 Feb. 2026

That legislation cut Medi-Ca l— California’s Medicaid program — providing free or low-cost comprehensive coverage to low-income residents, including families, children, seniors and people with disabilities. —Pat Maio, Oc Register, 31 Jan. 2026

Eat Better, Move Better If only motivation for all of us was as easy as hearing the word W-A-L-K. —Brian Higgins, Outside, 30 Jan. 2026

The coming season will also offer San Diego audiences their first opportunity here to experience Payare conducting Canada’s L’ Orchestre symphonique de Montréal. —George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (L) speaks with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi before their meeting at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi on February 28, 2025. —Tasmin Lockwood,chloe Taylor,holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 27 Jan. 2026

Not a 36-cover-L-slant-cross-post-on-two in sight. —Arkansas Online, 24 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Prefix

International Scientific Vocabulary, from lev-

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

l

noun

ˈel

often capitalized

1

: the 12th letter of the English alphabet

2

: fifty in Roman numerals

Medical Definition

L

1 of 3 abbreviation

1

left

2

levorotatory

3

light

4

liquid

5

liter

6

lumbar

—used especially with a number from 1 to 5 to indicate a vertebra or segment of the spinal cord in the lumbar region

L

2 of 3 symbol

lithium

l-

3 of 3 prefix

1

ˌlē-(ˌ)vō, ˌel, ˈel

: levorotatory

—usually printed in italic

l-tartaric acid

2

ˌel, ˈel

: having a similar configuration at a selected carbon atom to the configuration of levorotatory glyceraldehyde

—usually printed as a small capital

L-fructose

L-tryptophan