anticlockwise

/ˌæn.tiˈklɒk.waɪz/

//ˌæn.tiˈklɒk.waɪz// adj

"anticlockwise" is a 13-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“anticlockwise” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as an adjective - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
13
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - In a circular fashion so as to be moving to the left at the top of the circle and to the right at the bottom (when viewed from the front), in the opposite direction to the hands of an analog clock.

Key facts for anticlockwise
PropertyValue
Headwordanticlockwise
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˌæn.tiˈklɒk.waɪz/
Letters13
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “anticlockwise” sits in English frequency

anticlockwise falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for anticlockwise is 13 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˌæn.tiˈklɒk.waɪz/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. The dominant gloss from Wiktionary reads: "In a circular fashion so as to be moving to the left at the top of the circle and to the right at the bottom (when viewed from the front), in the opposite direction to the hands of an analog clock.".

anticlockwise doesn't appear in our generated misspelling index, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. Our dataset records no confusable match here, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.

Etymologically, the entry records: From anti- + clockwise. The correct English form is anticlockwise, spelled A-N-T-I-C-L-O-C-K-W-I-S-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    In a circular fashion so as to be moving to the left at the top of the circle and to the right at the bottom (when viewed from the front), in the opposite direction to the hands of an analog clock.

Etymology

From anti- + clockwise.

Synonyms

counterclockwisecounter-clockwiselaevorotatorylevorotatorypositive

Antonyms

This word in other languages

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "anticlockwise"?
"anticlockwise" is spelled A-N-T-I-C-L-O-C-K-W-I-S-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˌæn.tiˈklɒk.waɪz/.
What does "anticlockwise" mean?
As an adjective, "anticlockwise" means: In a circular fashion so as to be moving to the left at the top of the circle and to the right at the bottom (when viewed from the front), in the opposite direction to the hands of an analog clock.
How do you pronounce "anticlockwise"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "anticlockwise" is /ˌæn.tiˈklɒk.waɪz/. 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 "anticlockwise"?
From anti- + clockwise. 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 “anticlockwise”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is A-N-T-I-C-L-O-C-K-W-I-S-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˌæn.tiˈklɒk.waɪz/ (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