7-letter words with L as the 2nd letter and F as the 5th letter

The pattern is _L__F__, with L fixed in position two and F in position five. All 20 matches appear in Collins, while 13 appear in NWL2023 and 12 in ENABLE; those dictionary counts overlap. The set is unusually compact, and just one entry falls among the most common English words.

Which words and scores stand out?

• Exactly 20 tournament-dictionary entries fit the seven-letter pattern _L__F__.
• Collins lists all 20 matches; NWL2023 includes 13 and ENABLE includes 12.
• Only one match ranks among the top 25,000 English words by frequency.
• FLYOFFS scores 19 points; BLOWFLY, FLAMFEW, and BLUFFLY each score 18.

How do the matching words end?

The final letter D leads, appearing in six words. Examples include FLUFFED, BLUFFED, CLIFFED, and FLAFFED. Four matches end in L, four in Y, and three in R, so the pattern has several plausible finishes rather than one dominant ending.

F begins six entries and B begins five, which makes familiar-looking options such as PLAYFUL and GLEEFUL easier to spot, while less everyday forms like ALOOFLY and FLAFFED fill out the set. Look at both fixed positions before guessing from a familiar beginning alone. The Y group includes BLOWFLY, BLUFFLY and GLOWFLY, while PLAYFUL, GLEEFUL and GLADFUL close in L.

How to play the L-second, F-fifth pattern

PLAYFUL and GLEEFUL are the first two words to try. The average match scores 15.4 points. Acceptance is the catch: Collins takes all 20, NWL2023 only 13 and ENABLE only 12, so check your game's word list before building a play around an odd entry like FLAMFEW.

Spelling oddities are part of the charm here. FLAMFEW, FLAFFED and PLOTFUL read like typos, yet Collins accepts all 20 matches, so a rare find can still be legal.

FLYOFFS leads the scores at 19, with BLOWFLY, FLAMFEW, and BLUFFLY one point behind. FLUFFED, FLAFFED, and GLOWFLY follow at 17. Premium squares can reorder that ranking, so weigh the board before the rack.