abridgment
/əˈbɹɪd͡ʒ.mənt/
"abridgment" is a 10-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“abridgment” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a noun - the kind of word writers most often double-check.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 10
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The act of abridging; reduction or deprivation
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | abridgment |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Noun |
| IPA | /əˈbɹɪd͡ʒ.mənt/ |
| Letters | 10 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “abridgment” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for abridgment is 10 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /əˈbɹɪd͡ʒ.mənt/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 6 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.
abridgment doesn't appear in our generated misspelling index, a straightforward case of a spelling with little room for common typos. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, which typically means the spelling is too distinctive to be mistaken for another word.
Etymologically, the entry records: First attested in 1494. From Middle English abrygement, from Middle French abrégement. Equivalent to abridge + -ment. The correct English form is abridgment, spelled A-B-R-I-D-G-M-E-N-T.
Definition
- 1The act of abridging; reduction or deprivation
- 2The state of being abridged or lessened.
- 3An epitome or compend, as of a book; a shortened or abridged form; an abbreviation.
- 4That which abridges or cuts short; hence, an entertainment that makes the time pass quickly
- 5Any of various brief statements of case law made before modern reporting of legal cases.
- 6The leaving out of certain portions of a plaintiff's demand, the writ still holding good for the remainder.
Etymology
First attested in 1494. From Middle English abrygement, from Middle French abrégement. Equivalent to abridge + -ment.
This word in other languages
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Using “abridgment”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is A-B-R-I-D-G-M-E-N-T - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /əˈbɹɪd͡ʒ.mənt/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
- Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source
Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.