7-letter words with L as the 1st letter and S as the 4th letter

The fixed pattern is L _ _ S _ _ _, leaving five positions open. Familiar matches include LESSONS, LAWSUIT, LEISURE, and LOBSTER, alongside less familiar entries such as LOKSHEN. Only 7 matches count as common by frequency, so the full set reaches well beyond everyday vocabulary.

At a glance: pattern counts and play notes

• 54 words fit the exact seven-tile pattern.
• Recognizable matches include LESSONS, LAWSUIT, and LEISURE.
• Collins lists 52 matches; NWL2023 lists 38.
• Only 7 matches count as common by frequency.
• LOKSHEN tops the score list at 14 points.

How many 7-letter words with L as 1st and S as 4th letter?

Exactly 54 words fit L _ _ S _ _ _. Compare that with other seven-letter patterns that hold S in slot four: P-first has 218 matches, and C-first has 179. The L pattern is much narrower, so keep the fixed fourth tile visible while checking crossings instead of accepting any word that merely starts with L.

The fourth-position letter changes the picture, too. With L fixed first, S produces 54 matches, while I produces 120 and T produces 110. If your crossing letters make S uncertain, those neighboring pattern pages offer a quick test; don't bend a confirmed tile just to reach a more familiar word.

Length is another useful filter: the same L-and-S positions produce 46 six-letter matches and 22 five-letter matches. If the rack or puzzle has one fewer tile than expected, switch length before relaxing either position. These smaller sets show that the seven-letter count is not simply the only form of this pattern.

Which matches are worth checking first?

Start with recognizable fits: LESSONS, LAWSUIT, LEISURE, LOBSTER, and LEASING. LOOSELY, LESSENS, and LEASHES add different final letters for crossing clues. S is the most common ending, with 16 matches; G follows with 9 and R with 8.

The final S in a candidate therefore gives a strong, but not exclusive, shortcut.

For Scrabble scoring, LOKSHEN leads at 14 points; LUDSHIP and LASSOCK each score 13. LAWSUIT is more familiar and scores 10, illustrating the gap between recall and tile value. For 7-letter words with L as 1st and S as 4th letter, recognition and score pull in different directions.

Collins has 52 matches against NWL2023's 38, so check your game's list before playing an unfamiliar word.