losed

Losed is a nonstandard spelling that may appear in English texts. It is not listed as a standard form in major dictionaries and is generally considered a misspelling or error. Depending on context, losed can be mistaken for “lost” (the past tense and past participle of lose) or for “loosed” (the past tense of loose, meaning released). Some editors treat “losed” as a typographical or phonetic variant arising from pronunciation, especially in rapid or informal writing.

In practice, “losed” does not have a defined meaning separate from these standard words. If encountered, its meaning should be inferred from surrounding words: for example, if the sentence is intended to indicate misplacement or failure to keep possession, “lost” is likely intended; if the sentence intends release, “loosed” is likely intended. There is no widely recognized separate sense for “losed” as its own lexical item.

Historical and dialect notes: The form appears only rarely in historical texts or informal dialect writing and is not a productive form in modern standard English. It is more often a misspelling than a distinct term. Usage guidance: In formal writing, avoid “losed” and use “lost” or “loosed” as appropriate. In informal writing, it is generally safer to correct to standard spellings.

See also: lost, loosed, lose.