ambulatory

/ˈam.bjə.ləˌtoɹ.i/

//ˈam.bjə.ləˌtoɹ.i// adj

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

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

The verdict

“ambulatory” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #34,774 in English word frequency and used as an adjective.

#34,774
frequency rank, English
10
letters
15
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Of, relating to, or adapted to walking.

Key facts for ambulatory
PropertyValue
Headwordambulatory
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˈam.bjə.ləˌtoɹ.i/
Letters10
Frequency rank#34,774
Misspellings tracked15
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “ambulatory” 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). ambulatory 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 ambulatory is 10 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈam.bjə.ləˌtoɹ.i/. Corpus data places it at rank #34,774 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 6 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 15 likely wrong-spelling variants for ambulatory, with forms such as "abmulatory", "ambbulatory", and "ambluatory". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Latin ambulatorius. By surface analysis, ambulate + -ory, or, by surface analysis, ambulator + -y. The correct English form is ambulatory, spelled A-M-B-U-L-A-T-O-R-Y.

Definition

  1. 1
    Of, relating to, or adapted to walking.
  2. 2
    Able to walk about and not bedridden.
  3. 3
    Performed on or involving an outpatient.
  4. 4
    Relating to ambulances.
  5. 5
    Accustomed to move from place to place; not stationary; movable.
  6. 6
    Not yet legally fixed or settled; alterable.

Etymology

From Latin ambulatorius. By surface analysis, ambulate + -ory, or, by surface analysis, ambulator + -y.

This word in other languages

ambulatorio(Español)ambulatoire(Français)ambulant(Deutsch)ambulante(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: abmulatory,ambbulatory,ambluatory,ambualtory,ambulaotry,ambulatorry,ambulatoryy,ambulatoyr,ambulatroy,ambulattory,ambullatory,ambultaory,ammbulatory,amublatory,mabulatory

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

abmulatory2ambbulatory1ambluatory2ambualtory2ambulaotry2ambulatorry1ambulatoryy1ambulatoyr2
Edit distance from "ambulatory"

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 "ambulatory"?
"ambulatory" is spelled A-M-B-U-L-A-T-O-R-Y. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈam.bjə.ləˌtoɹ.i/.
What does "ambulatory" mean?
As an adjective, "ambulatory" means: Of, relating to, or adapted to walking.
What are common misspellings of "ambulatory"?
Common misspellings include "abmulatory", "ambbulatory", "ambluatory", "ambualtory", "ambulaotry". The correct spelling is "ambulatory".
How do you pronounce "ambulatory"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "ambulatory" is /ˈam.bjə.ləˌtoɹ.i/. 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 "ambulatory"?
From Latin ambulatorius. By surface analysis, ambulate + -ory, or, by surface analysis, ambulator + -y. 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 “ambulatory”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is A-M-B-U-L-A-T-O-R-Y - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈam.bjə.ləˌtoɹ.i/ (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
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