alignment

/əˈlaɪn.mənt/

//əˈlaɪn.mənt// noun

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

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

The verdict

“alignment” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #9,844 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#9,844
frequency rank, English
9
letters
14
tracked misspellings
1
confusable pair

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - An arrangement of items in a line.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

alignment vs assignment
80% similar

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

Key facts for alignment
PropertyValue
Headwordalignment
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/əˈlaɪn.mənt/
Letters9
Frequency rank#9,844
Misspellings tracked14
Confusable pairs1
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “alignment” 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). alignment 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 alignment is 9 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /əˈlaɪn.mənt/. Corpus data places it at rank #9,844 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 9 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 14 likely wrong-spelling variants for alignment, with forms such as "ailgnment", "alginment", and "aliggnment". 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 1 confusable-pair relationship, "assignment", a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: From French alignement, by surface analysis, align + -ment. The correct English form is alignment, spelled A-L-I-G-N-M-E-N-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    An arrangement of items in a line.
  2. 2
    The process of adjusting a mechanism such that its parts are aligned; the condition of having its parts so adjusted.
  3. 3
    An alliance of factions.
  4. 4
    The goals and values of an artificial intelligence, considered relative to human ethical standards.
  5. 5
    One of a set number of moral positions or philosophies a character can take.
  6. 6
    The conjunction of two celestial objects.
  7. 7
    The precise route or course taken by a linear way (road, railway, footpath, etc.) between two points.
  8. 8
    A way of arranging DNA, RNA or protein sequences in order to identify regions of similarity.
  9. 9
    ground plan of a canal or road

Etymology

From French alignement, by surface analysis, align + -ment.

This word in other languages

alineación(Español)alignement(Français)Ausrichtung(Deutsch)alinhamento(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ailgnment,alginment,aliggnment,aligmnent,alignemnt,alignmennt,alignmentt,alignmetn,alignmment,alignmnet,alignnment,alingment,allignment,laignment

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

ailgnment2alginment2aliggnment1aligmnent2alignemnt2alignmennt1alignmentt1alignmetn2
Edit distance from "alignment"

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 "alignment"?
"alignment" is spelled A-L-I-G-N-M-E-N-T. The IPA pronunciation is /əˈlaɪn.mənt/.
What does "alignment" mean?
As a noun, "alignment" means: An arrangement of items in a line.
What words are commonly confused with "alignment"?
"alignment" is commonly confused with "assignment". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "alignment"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "alignment" is /əˈlaɪn.mənt/. 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 "alignment"?
From French alignement, by surface analysis, align + -ment. 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 “alignment”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is A-L-I-G-N-M-E-N-T - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /əˈlaɪn.mənt/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “assignment” - see the side-by-side comparison. alignment vs assignment
  • 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