Words Starting With PAT
100 wordsWords beginning with PAT tap into fundamental human experiences—paths we travel, patience we practice, patterns we recognize. This collection spans from the quick strategic plays of PATH and PATE to impressive vocabulary like PATRONIZINGLY, offering options for every word game scenario.
3-letter words
14-letter words
35-letter words
86-letter words
147-letter words
158-letter words
159-letter words
2010-letter words
1311-letter words
712-letter words
213-letter words
114-letter words
1Pattern Guide
Insights and recommendations for these words.
The PAT pattern rewards players who understand how this versatile root connects to movement, endurance, and care.
Vocabulary & Language
Linguistic patterns and usage statistics
The Latin root 'pater' (father) and 'pati' (to suffer or endure) generate much of this word family. PATIENCE and PATHOLOGY both trace to suffering—one about enduring it, the other about studying it. Meanwhile, PATRON and PATERNAL connect to fatherly protection, showing how a single root branches into surprisingly different meanings.
Total Words
161
0.1% of dictionary
Avg Length
8.9 letters
3.3 syllables
Top Scrabble
PATRONIZINGLY
28 points
Longest Word
PATERFAMILIASES
15 letters
Parts of Speech
With 61% nouns and an average length of 8.9 letters, PAT words tend toward substantial vocabulary rather than quick plays. The 27% adjective representation is notably high, offering good options for descriptive gameplay.
Middle French and Old French dominate this pattern, reflecting how Norman influence shaped English concepts around social structure and suffering. The chain from PATIENCE through Old French to Latin 'patientia' shows the medieval church's role in importing vocabulary around virtue. Ancient Greek contributes through medical and scientific terms like PATHOLOGY, where 'pathos' meaning suffering became the foundation for studying disease.
Word Games
High-value words for board games
Short (2-4)
Medium (5-7)
a trodden path
a poor chess player
irregular or uneven in quality, texture, etc.
Long (8+)
with condescension; in a patronizing manner
with respect to pathology
a quilt made by sewing patches of different materials together
Short (2-4)
Medium (5-7)
a poor chess player
a trodden path
Apostle and patron saint of Ireland; an English missionary to Ireland in the 5th century
Long (8+)
with condescension; in a patronizing manner
with respect to pathology
(used of behavior or attitude) characteristic of those who treat others with condescension
PATZER stands out with its Z placement, scoring 17 points in Scrabble and 18 in WWF—a useful chess term meaning a weak player. PATHWAY offers solid value in both games, but WWF's higher tile values make the already-strong PATRONIZINGLY climb from 28 to 32 points. For shorter plays, PATH at 9 points provides reliable board control when premium squares aren't available.
Wordle
5-letter words for daily puzzles
Good Starters (E, A, R, S, T)
a person who is gullible and easy to take advantage of
an informal use of the Latin word for father; sometimes used by British schoolboys or used facetiously
PATER and PATEN offer strong vowel coverage with A and E in different positions. PATSY tests the common Y ending while PATHS covers the frequent TH combination—both useful for narrowing possibilities quickly.
Length Extremes
Longest and shortest valid words
Longest
Shortest
Medical and psychological terminology drives the longer words here, with prefixes and suffixes stacking onto Greek roots. PATHOLOGICALLY demonstrates how clinical language expands simple concepts into multisyllabic precision.
Hidden Gems
Rare but valid words to surprise opponents
lacking pathways
someone on patrol duty; an individual or a member of a group that patrols an area
of or relating to the practice of pathology
"pathological laboratory"
a fine coating of oxide (produced by oxidation over a long period of time) on the surface of a metal (particularly copper)
"a patina of frost"
PATINA describes the fine oxide coating that forms on copper and bronze over time—that distinctive green film on old statues. Beyond its artistic meaning, it's a compact five-letter word with common letters that many players overlook. Worth remembering for both its elegance and its game utility.
Popular crossword answers
Words frequently used in crossword puzzles with common clues.