aperture

/ˈap.ə.t͡ʃə/

//ˈap.ə.t͡ʃə// noun

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

"aperture" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“aperture” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #15,569 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#15,569
frequency rank, English
8
letters
11
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A small or narrow opening, gap, slit, or hole.

Key facts for aperture
PropertyValue
Headwordaperture
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈap.ə.t͡ʃə/
Letters8
Frequency rank#15,569
Misspellings tracked11
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “aperture” 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). aperture 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 aperture is 8 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈap.ə.t͡ʃə/. Corpus data places it at rank #15,569 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 5 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 11 likely wrong-spelling variants for aperture, with forms such as "aeprture", "aperrture", and "apertrue". 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. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: From late Middle English, from Latin apertūra (“an opening”), from aperiō (“to uncover, make or lay bare”) + -tūra (“-ure”, action noun suffix). Doublet of overture. The correct English form is aperture, spelled A-P-E-R-T-U-R-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    A small or narrow opening, gap, slit, or hole.
  2. 2
    A hole which restricts the diameter of the lightpath through one plane in an optical system.
  3. 3
    A hole which restricts the diameter of the lightpath through one plane in an optical system.
  4. 4
    The (typically) large-diameter antenna used for receiving and transmitting radio frequency energy containing the data used in communication satellites, especially in the geostationary belt. For a comsat, this is typically a large reflective dish antenna; sometimes called an array.
  5. 5
    The maximum angle between the two generatrices.

Etymology

From late Middle English, from Latin apertūra (“an opening”), from aperiō (“to uncover, make or lay bare”) + -tūra (“-ure”, action noun suffix). Doublet of overture.

This word in other languages

abertura(Español)ouverture(Français)Öffnung(Deutsch)abertura(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: aeprture,aperrture,apertrue,apertture,apertuer,aperturre,aperutre,apetrure,apperture,apreture,paerture

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

aeprture2aperrture1apertrue2apertture1apertuer2aperturre1aperutre2apetrure2
Edit distance from "aperture"

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 "aperture"?
"aperture" is spelled A-P-E-R-T-U-R-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈap.ə.t͡ʃə/.
What does "aperture" mean?
As a noun, "aperture" means: A small or narrow opening, gap, slit, or hole.
What are common misspellings of "aperture"?
Common misspellings include "aeprture", "aperrture", "apertrue", "apertture", "apertuer". The correct spelling is "aperture".
How do you pronounce "aperture"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "aperture" is /ˈap.ə.t͡ʃə/. 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 "aperture"?
From late Middle English, from Latin apertūra (“an opening”), from aperiō (“to uncover, make or lay bare”) + -tūra (“-ure”, action noun suffix). Doublet of overture. 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 “aperture”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is A-P-E-R-T-U-R-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈap.ə.t͡ʃə/ (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