f-i-x-t-u-r-e
FIXTURE Something firmly attached in place; a permanent installation; a scheduled sporting event; a person long associated with a place. Worth 17 points in word games.
17
Points in Scrabble
Base tile values • No multipliers applied
A fixture represents permanence in an ever-changing world—something fixed, attached, and enduring. From the light fixtures illuminating our homes to the fixtures of British football schedules, this versatile word captures the essence of stability and regularity. In law, fixtures transform personal property into real estate through permanent attachment, a concept that has shaped property rights for centuries.
In construction and real estate, fixtures include anything permanently attached to a building: plumbing fixtures like sinks and toilets, lighting fixtures from chandeliers to track lights, and built-in appliances. The legal "fixture test" considers attachment method, adaptation to the property, and intention of permanence. This distinction matters enormously—fixtures stay with property sales while personal items don't, leading to countless disputes over what constitutes a fixture versus movable property.
Beyond physical attachments, fixture describes anything reliably present. A "fixture" at the local pub has occupied the same barstool for decades. In sports, particularly British football, fixtures are the scheduled matches that give rhythm to the season. The term even extends to retail, where "fixtures and fittings" encompass all permanent shop installations. This semantic flexibility reflects how the concept of fixedness permeates multiple aspects of life.
For word game enthusiasts, FIXTURE combines the challenging X (8 points) with common letters for strategic flexibility. The 7-letter length makes it a near-bingo word—add one letter for the 50-point bonus. The -URE ending creates numerous hooking opportunities (FIXTURES, PREFIXTURE), while the initial FIX- can build on existing words. Smart players recognize FIXTURE as a high-probability play when holding an X, balancing risk with reward.
FIXTURE derives from Late Latin "fixura," meaning "a fastening," built on the Latin root "figere" (to fix or fasten). The word entered English in the 1590s, initially referring to the act of fixing. By the 1700s, it evolved to mean "anything fixed in place," particularly in legal contexts distinguishing permanent from movable property. The sporting sense of "scheduled match" emerged in the 1830s, while the colloquial use for "permanent resident" dates to the 1880s. This evolution from physical attachment to metaphorical permanence reflects the word's adaptability across contexts.
•FIXTURE contains the valuable X (8 points) in a flexible position, enabling multiple placement strategies
•In English law, the "fixture test" dates back to 1700s cases determining what stays with property sales
•Premier League fixtures are scheduled by a supercomputer considering 13,000+ rules and constraints
"The antique chandelier was deemed a fixture and remained with the house despite the seller's protests."
"Old Tom has been such a fixture at this pub, they named a beer after him."
Strategic alternatives with comparable scoring:
Total base points: 17 (Scrabble)
Vowels: 3 (I, U, E) | Consonants: 4 (F, X, T, R)
Practice unscrambling letters to find more high-scoring words like FIXTURE