aftershock

/ˈæftɜɹʃɔk/

//ˈæftɜɹʃɔk// noun

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

"aftershock" is a 10-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“aftershock” has 16 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #48,047. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#48,047
frequency rank, English
35,202
“A” headwords
16
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - An earthquake that follows in the same vicinity as another, usually larger, earthquake (the "mainshock").

Key facts for aftershock
PropertyValue
Headwordaftershock
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈæftɜɹʃɔk/
Letters10
Frequency rank#48,047
Misspellings tracked16
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “aftershock” 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). aftershock lands here:

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

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

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 16 spelling variants around aftershock (IPA /ˈæftɜɹʃɔk/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #48,047 among 35,202 “A” headwords. Wiktionary lists 3 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 16 likely wrong-spelling variants for aftershock, with forms such as "afetrshock", "afftershock", and "afterhsock". 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. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, which tends to mean the word is visually distinctive enough to stand on its own.

Etymologically, the entry records: From after- + shock. The correct English form is aftershock, spelled A-F-T-E-R-S-H-O-C-K.

Definition

  1. 1
    An earthquake that follows in the same vicinity as another, usually larger, earthquake (the "mainshock").
  2. 2
    By extension, any result or consequence following a major event.
  3. 3
    Emotional and physical distress following a traumatic event.

Etymology

From after- + shock.

Antonyms

foreshock

This word in other languages

réplica(Español)réplique(Français)Nachbeben(Deutsch)réplica(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • afetrshock
  • afftershock
  • afterhsock
  • afterrshock
  • aftershcok
  • aftershhock
  • aftershocck
  • aftershockk
  • aftershokc
  • aftersohck
  • aftersshock
  • aftesrhock
  • aftreshock
  • afttershock
  • atfershock
  • fatershock

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of aftershock - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

afetrshock2afftershock1afterhsock2afterrshock1aftershcok2aftershhock1aftershocck1aftershockk1
Edit distance from "aftershock"

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 "aftershock"?
"aftershock" is spelled A-F-T-E-R-S-H-O-C-K. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈæftɜɹʃɔk/.
What does "aftershock" mean?
As a noun, "aftershock" means: An earthquake that follows in the same vicinity as another, usually larger, earthquake (the "mainshock").
What are common misspellings of "aftershock"?
Common misspellings include "afetrshock", "afftershock", "afterhsock", "afterrshock", "aftershcok". The correct spelling is "aftershock".
How do you pronounce "aftershock"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "aftershock" is /ˈæftɜɹʃɔk/. 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 "aftershock"?
From after- + shock. 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 “aftershock”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is A-F-T-E-R-S-H-O-C-K - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈæftɜɹʃɔk/ (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

Same frequency band

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