anoint

/əˈnɔɪnt/

//əˈnɔɪnt// verb

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

"anoint" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“anoint” is uncommon English (frequency #54,009 among 35,202 “A” headwords), classed as a verb. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#54,009
frequency rank, English
35,202
“A” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To smear or rub over with oil or an unctuous substance; also, to spread over, as oil.

Key facts for anoint
PropertyValue
Headwordanoint
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/əˈnɔɪnt/
Letters6
Frequency rank#54,009
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “anoint” 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). anoint lands here:

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

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

Rare enough to double-check

anoint is uncommon English at frequency #54,009 among 35,202 “A” headwords, classed as averb, transcribed /əˈnɔɪnt/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 4 senses are on record.

Our edit-distance generator produced no likely misspellings for anoint, which points to an orthography that plays by predictable English rules. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English enointen, anointen, borrowed from Old French enoint, past participle of enoindre (“to anoint”). Doublet of inunct. The correct English form is anoint, spelled A-N-O-I-N-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    To smear or rub over with oil or an unctuous substance; also, to spread over, as oil.
  2. 2
    To apply oil to or to pour oil upon, etc., as a sacred rite, especially for consecration.
  3. 3
    To choose or nominate somebody for a leading or otherwise important position, especially formally or officially, or as an intended successor.
  4. 4
    To mark somebody as an official ruler, especially a king or queen, as a part of a religious ceremony.

Etymology

From Middle English enointen, anointen, borrowed from Old French enoint, past participle of enoindre (“to anoint”). Doublet of inunct.

This word in other languages

ungir(Español)oindre(Français)ölen(Deutsch)ungir(Português)

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 "anoint"?
"anoint" is spelled A-N-O-I-N-T. The IPA pronunciation is /əˈnɔɪnt/.
What does "anoint" mean?
As a verb, "anoint" means: To smear or rub over with oil or an unctuous substance; also, to spread over, as oil.
How do you pronounce "anoint"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "anoint" is /əˈnɔɪnt/. 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 "anoint"?
From Middle English enointen, anointen, borrowed from Old French enoint, past participle of enoindre (“to anoint”). Doublet of inunct. 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 “anoint”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is A-N-O-I-N-T - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /əˈnɔɪnt/ (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

Other uncommon English words near this rank

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