algorithm

/ˈælɡəɹɪðm̩/

//ˈælɡəɹɪðm̩// noun

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

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

The verdict

“algorithm” has 14 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #6,860. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#6,860
frequency rank, English
3,931
“A” headwords
14
tracked misspellings
2
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - A collection of ordered steps that solve a mathematical problem. A precise step-by-step plan for a computational procedure that possibly begins with an input value and yields an output value in a f...

Corpus desk

Index EN-algorithm · algorithm · English

algorithm · rank #6,860 · 14 variants · 2 confusables

  • FREQ-COMMON #6,860
  • LEN-LONG 9 letters
  • VOW-3 3 vowels
  • CONFUS-LOW 2 pairs
  • VAR-HIGH 14 variants
  • BOOK-MID 3,931
  • PHOTO-FINISH aesthetic

Nearest frequency peer: aesthetic (-1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Rank peers near misspelling magnet “algorithm”

Same rarity band: useful when a typo lands on a peer headword

corpus weight

What this shows “algorithm” sits among these FrequencyWords peers; misspelling depth is tracked separately in the edit-distance chart.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

algorithm vs algorithms
90% similar
algorithm vs algorithmic
82% similar

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

Key facts for algorithm
PropertyValue
Headwordalgorithm
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈælɡəɹɪðm̩/
Letters9
Frequency rank#6,860
Misspellings tracked14
Confusable pairs2
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “algorithm”

This scale runs from the tiny cluster of words that carry ordinary speech (left) to the long tail of words almost nobody reaches for (right).algorithmlands here:

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

Ticks step logarithmically, so each one marks a roughly tenfold drop in how often the word turns up. Same rarity band neighbours include “aesthetic” (#6,859), “altered” (#6,861), “accordingly” (#6,858). Among 3,931 “A” headwords, “algorithm” is #6,860. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 14 spelling variants around algorithm (IPA /ˈælɡəɹɪðm̩/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #6,860 among 3,931 “A” headwords. Wiktionary lists 6 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 14 likely wrong-spelling variants for algorithm, with forms such as "aglorithm", "alggorithm", and "algoirthm". 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. It also participates in 2 confusable-pair relationships, "algorithms", "algorithmic", a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: Etymology tree Arabic ال (al-) Old Persian 𐎢𐎺𐎠𐎼𐏀𐎷𐎡𐏁 (u-v-a-r-z-mi-i-š) Classical Persian خْوَارَزْم (xwārazm)bor. Arabic خَوَارِزْم (ḵawārizm) Arabic ـِيّ (-iyy) Arabic خَوَارِزْمِيّ (ḵawārizmiyy) Arabic الخَوَارِزْمِيّ (al-ḵawārizmiyy)bor. Medieval… The correct English form is algorithm, spelled A-L-G-O-R-I-T-H-M.

Definition

  1. 1
    A collection of ordered steps that solve a mathematical problem. A precise step-by-step plan for a computational procedure that possibly begins with an input value and yields an output value in a finite number of steps.
  2. 2
    A flowchart illustrating a decision-making process for human users, especially health care professionals.
  3. 3
    Calculation with Arabic numerals; algorism.
  4. 4
    recommender systems and the curation of feeds
  5. 5
    recommender systems and the curation of feeds
  6. 6
    recommender systems and the curation of feeds

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how algorithm appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. Informally, an algorithm is any well-defined computational procedure that takes some value, or set of values, as input and produces some value, or set of values, as output. An algorithm is thus a sequence of computational steps that transform the input into the output.
  2. Mark Zuckerberg: No, I need the algorithm you used to rank chess players. / Eduardo Saverin: Are you OK? / Mark Zuckerberg: We're ranking girls.

Etymology

Etymology tree Arabic ال (al-) Old Persian 𐎢𐎺𐎠𐎼𐏀𐎷𐎡𐏁 (u-v-a-r-z-mi-i-š) Classical Persian خْوَارَزْم (xwārazm)bor. Arabic خَوَارِزْم (ḵawārizm) Arabic ـِيّ (-iyy) Arabic خَوَارِزْمِيّ (ḵawārizmiyy) Arabic الخَوَارِزْمِيّ (al-ḵawārizmiyy)bor. Medieval Latin algorismusbor. Anglo-Norman algorismebor. Middle English algorisme English algorism ▲ English arithmo-influ. English algorithm From Middle English algorisme, augrym, from Anglo-Norman algorisme, augrim, from Medieval Latin algorismus, from Arabic الخَوَارِزْمِيّ (al-ḵawārizmiyy), the nisba of Persian mathematician Muḥammad ibn Mūsā al-Khwārizmī and a toponymic name meaning "person from Chorasmia". The spelling change (-s- > -th-) was influenced by unrelated Ancient Greek ἀριθμός (arithmós) (whence English arithmo-).

This word in other languages

algoritmo(Español)algorithme(Français)Algorithmus(Deutsch)algoritmo(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • aglorithm
  • alggorithm
  • algoirthm
  • algorihtm
  • algorithhm
  • algorithmm
  • algoritmh
  • algoritthm
  • algorrithm
  • algortihm
  • algroithm
  • allgorithm
  • alogrithm
  • lagorithm

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of algorithm - 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.

aglorithm2alggorithm1algoirthm2algorihtm2algorithhm1algorithmm1algoritmh2algoritthm1
Edit distance from "algorithm"

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 "algorithm"?
"algorithm" is spelled A-L-G-O-R-I-T-H-M. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈælɡəɹɪðm̩/.
What does "algorithm" mean?
As a noun, "algorithm" means: A collection of ordered steps that solve a mathematical problem. A precise step-by-step plan for a computational procedure that possibly begins with an input value and yields an output value in a f...
What words are commonly confused with "algorithm"?
"algorithm" is commonly confused with "algorithms", "algorithmic". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "algorithm"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "algorithm" is /ˈælɡəɹɪðm̩/. 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 "algorithm"?
Etymology tree Arabic ال (al-) Old Persian 𐎢𐎺𐎠𐎼𐏀𐎷𐎡𐏁 (u-v-a-r-z-mi-i-š) Classical Persian خْوَارَزْم (xwārazm)bor. Arabic خَوَارِزْم (ḵawārizm) Arabic ـِيّ (-iyy) Arabic خَوَارِزْمِيّ (ḵawārizmiyy) Arabic الخَوَارِزْمِيّ (al-ḵawārizmiyy)bor... 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.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "algorithm", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 9 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

aesthetic#6,859threshold#6,845confusing#6,884sentiment#6,835

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (14 here; floor ≥5).

supplement14 variantsdimension14 variantsprovinces14 variantsPortuguese14 variants

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list