applicator

noun

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

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

The verdict

“applicator” has 13 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #47,469. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#47,469
frequency rank, English
3,931
“A” headwords
13
tracked misspellings
1
confusable pair

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - A tool or device used to apply a fluid or semi-fluid substance to a surface.

Corpus desk

Index EN-applicator · applicator · English

applicator · rank #47,469 · 13 variants · 1 confusable

  • FREQ-MID #47,469
  • LEN-MEGA 10 letters
  • VOW-4 4 vowels
  • CONFUS-LOW 1 pairs
  • VAR-HIGH 13 variants
  • BOOK-MID 3,931
  • PHOTO-FINISH appetizing

Nearest frequency peer: appetizing (-1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Rank peers near misspelling magnet “applicator”

Same rarity band: useful when a typo lands on a peer headword

corpus weight

What this shows “applicator” sits among these FrequencyWords peers; misspelling depth is tracked separately in the edit-distance chart.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

applicator vs application
82% similar

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

Key facts for applicator
PropertyValue
Headwordapplicator
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
Letters10
Frequency rank#47,469
Misspellings tracked13
Confusable pairs1
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “applicator”

Word frequency stretches from the small set of words we reach for constantly (left) out to the long tail barely used once in a while (right).applicatorlands here:

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

Ticks step logarithmically, so each one marks a roughly tenfold drop in how often the word turns up. Same rarity band neighbours include “appetizing” (#47,468), “arsonist” (#47,471), “anyplace” (#47,466). Among 3,931 “A” headwords, “applicator” is #47,469. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 13 spelling variants around applicator, anoun. Corpus frequency is #47,469 among 3,931 “A” headwords. Wiktionary lists 2 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 13 likely wrong-spelling variants for applicator, with forms such as "aplicator", "aplpicator", and "appilcator". 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, "application", a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: From application + -or. The correct English form is applicator, spelled A-P-P-L-I-C-A-T-O-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    A tool or device used to apply a fluid or semi-fluid substance to a surface.
  2. 2
    A tubular device to insert a tampon into the vagina.

Etymology

From application + -or.

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • aplicator
  • aplpicator
  • appilcator
  • applciator
  • appliactor
  • applicaotr
  • applicatorr
  • applicatro
  • applicattor
  • appliccator
  • applictaor
  • appllicator
  • paplicator

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

aplicator1aplpicator2appilcator2applciator2appliactor2applicaotr2applicatorr1applicatro2
Edit distance from "applicator"

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 "applicator"?
"applicator" is spelled A-P-P-L-I-C-A-T-O-R.
What does "applicator" mean?
As a noun, "applicator" means: A tool or device used to apply a fluid or semi-fluid substance to a surface.
What words are commonly confused with "applicator"?
"applicator" is commonly confused with "application". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
What is the origin of the word "applicator"?
From application + -or. 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.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "applicator", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 10 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

appetizing#47,468amateurish#47,461acoustical#47,449brownstone#47,506

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (13 here; floor ≥5).

bolognese13 variantsworkpiece13 variantswolfpack13 variantsWhitcomb13 variants

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list