alabaster

/ˈæl.əˌbɑːs.tə/

//ˈæl.əˌbɑːs.tə// noun

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

"alabaster" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“alabaster” has 13 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #40,991. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#40,991
frequency rank, English
35,202
“A” headwords
13
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A fine-grained white or lightly-tinted variety of gypsum, used ornamentally.

Key facts for alabaster
PropertyValue
Headwordalabaster
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈæl.əˌbɑːs.tə/
Letters9
Frequency rank#40,991
Misspellings tracked13
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “alabaster” 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). alabaster 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 13 spelling variants around alabaster (IPA /ˈæl.əˌbɑːs.tə/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #40,991 among 35,202 “A” headwords. Wiktionary lists 3 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 13 likely wrong-spelling variants for alabaster, with forms such as "aalbaster", "alaabster", and "alabasetr". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, a sign it's visually distinctive enough not to be mixed up with another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English alabastre, from Old French alabastre, from Latin alabaster (“box for perfumes or unguents”), from Ancient Greek ἀλάβαστρος (alábastros), from earlier ἀλάβαστος (alábastos, “vase without handles for storing perfumes”). This may further de… The correct English form is alabaster, spelled A-L-A-B-A-S-T-E-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    A fine-grained white or lightly-tinted variety of gypsum, used ornamentally.
  2. 2
    A variety of calcite, translucent and sometimes banded.
  3. 3
    An off-white colour, like that of alabaster.

Etymology

From Middle English alabastre, from Old French alabastre, from Latin alabaster (“box for perfumes or unguents”), from Ancient Greek ἀλάβαστρος (alábastros), from earlier ἀλάβαστος (alábastos, “vase without handles for storing perfumes”). This may further derive from Egyptian ꜥj-r-bꜣstjt (“vessel of the Egyptian goddess Bast”). The Latin suffix -aster is unrelated, but may have influenced the spelling of the borrowing from Ancient Greek (whence a direct loan could have been rendered as *alabastrus).

This word in other languages

alabastro(Español)albâtre(Français)Alabaster(Deutsch)alabastro(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: aalbaster,alaabster,alabasetr,alabasster,alabasterr,alabastre,alabastter,alabatser,alabbaster,alabsater,albaaster,allabaster,laabaster

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of alabaster - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

aalbaster2alaabster2alabasetr2alabasster1alabasterr1alabastre2alabastter1alabatser2
Edit distance from "alabaster"

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 "alabaster"?
"alabaster" is spelled A-L-A-B-A-S-T-E-R. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈæl.əˌbɑːs.tə/.
What does "alabaster" mean?
As a noun, "alabaster" means: A fine-grained white or lightly-tinted variety of gypsum, used ornamentally.
What are common misspellings of "alabaster"?
Common misspellings include "aalbaster", "alaabster", "alabasetr", "alabasster", "alabasterr". The correct spelling is "alabaster".
How do you pronounce "alabaster"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "alabaster" is /ˈæl.əˌbɑːs.tə/. 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 "alabaster"?
From Middle English alabastre, from Old French alabastre, from Latin alabaster (“box for perfumes or unguents”), from Ancient Greek ἀλάβαστρος (alábastros), from earlier ἀλάβαστος (alábastos, “vase without handles for storing perfumes”). This may ... 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 “alabaster”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is A-L-A-B-A-S-T-E-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈæl.əˌbɑːs.tə/ (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 FrequencyWords open word-frequency list