affix

/ˈæf.ɪks/

//ˈæf.ɪks// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"affix" is a 5-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“affix” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #45,191 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#45,191
frequency rank, English
5
letters
5
tracked misspellings
4
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A bound morpheme added to a word’s stem, such as a prefix or suffix.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

affix vs Alfie
40% similar
affix vs aff
60% similar
affix vs affair
67% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for affix
PropertyValue
Headwordaffix
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈæf.ɪks/
Letters5
Frequency rank#45,191
Misspellings tracked5
Confusable pairs4
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “affix” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). affix lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for affix is 5 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈæf.ɪks/. Corpus data places it at rank #45,191 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 4 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 5 likely wrong-spelling variants for affix, with forms such as "affixx", "affxi", and "afifx". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. It also participates in 4 confusable-pair relationships, "Alfie", "aff", "affair", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from Latin affixus, perfect passive participle of affigere (from ad- + figere). By surface analysis, a(f)- + fix. The correct English form is affix, spelled A-F-F-I-X.

Definition

  1. 1
    A bound morpheme added to a word’s stem, such as a prefix or suffix.
  2. 2
    That which is affixed; an appendage.
  3. 3
    The complex number a+bi associated with the point in the Gauss plane with coordinates (a,b).
  4. 4
    Any small feature, as a figure, a flower, or the like, added for ornament to a vessel or other utensil, to an architectural feature.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin affixus, perfect passive participle of affigere (from ad- + figere). By surface analysis, a(f)- + fix.

This word in other languages

afijo(Español)affixe(Français)Anhang(Deutsch)afixo(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: affixx,affxi,afifx,afix,fafix

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of affix - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

affixx1affxi2afifx2afix1fafix2
Edit distance from "affix"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "affix"?
"affix" is spelled A-F-F-I-X. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈæf.ɪks/.
What does "affix" mean?
As a noun, "affix" means: A bound morpheme added to a word’s stem, such as a prefix or suffix.
What words are commonly confused with "affix"?
"affix" is commonly confused with "Alfie", "aff", "affair". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "affix"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "affix" is /ˈæf.ɪks/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "affix"?
Borrowed from Latin affixus, perfect passive participle of affigere (from ad- + figere). By surface analysis, a(f)- + fix. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “affix”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is A-F-F-I-X - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈæf.ɪks/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “Alfie” - see the side-by-side comparison. affix vs Alfie
  • 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.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list