apprentice

/əˈpɹɛntɪs/

//əˈpɹɛntɪs// noun

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

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

The verdict

“apprentice” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #11,164 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#11,164
frequency rank, English
10
letters
13
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A trainee, especially in a skilled trade.

Key facts for apprentice
PropertyValue
Headwordapprentice
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/əˈpɹɛntɪs/
Letters10
Frequency rank#11,164
Misspellings tracked13
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “apprentice” 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). apprentice 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 apprentice is 10 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /əˈpɹɛntɪs/. Corpus data places it at rank #11,164 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 13 likely wrong-spelling variants for apprentice, with forms such as "apperntice", "apprenitce", and "apprenntice". 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 entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, which typically means the spelling is too distinctive to be mistaken for another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English apprentice, apprentesse, apprentyse, apprentis, from Old French aprentis, plural of aprentif, from Old French aprendre (verb), Late Latin apprendō, from Classical Latin apprehendō. Compare typologically Latin discipulus (akin to capiō); … The correct English form is apprentice, spelled A-P-P-R-E-N-T-I-C-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    A trainee, especially in a skilled trade.
  2. 2
    One who is bound by indentures or by legal agreement to serve a tradesperson, or other person, for a certain time, with a view to learn the art, or trade, in which his master is bound to instruct him.
  3. 3
    One not well versed in a subject; a tyro or newbie.

Etymology

From Middle English apprentice, apprentesse, apprentyse, apprentis, from Old French aprentis, plural of aprentif, from Old French aprendre (verb), Late Latin apprendō, from Classical Latin apprehendō. Compare typologically Latin discipulus (akin to capiō); Russian схва́тывать на лету́ (sxvátyvatʹ na letú), and for another aspect быть на подхва́те (bytʹ na podxváte) (both akin to хвата́ть (xvatátʹ).

This word in other languages

aprendiz(Español)apprenti(Français)Lehrling(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: apperntice,apprenitce,apprenntice,apprentcie,apprenticce,apprentiec,apprenttice,appretnice,apprnetice,apprrentice,aprentice,aprpentice,paprentice

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of apprentice - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

apperntice2apprenitce2apprenntice1apprentcie2apprenticce1apprentiec2apprenttice1appretnice2
Edit distance from "apprentice"

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 "apprentice"?
"apprentice" is spelled A-P-P-R-E-N-T-I-C-E. The IPA pronunciation is /əˈpɹɛntɪs/.
What does "apprentice" mean?
As a noun, "apprentice" means: A trainee, especially in a skilled trade.
What are common misspellings of "apprentice"?
Common misspellings include "apperntice", "apprenitce", "apprenntice", "apprentcie", "apprenticce". The correct spelling is "apprentice".
How do you pronounce "apprentice"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "apprentice" is /əˈpɹɛntɪs/. 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 "apprentice"?
From Middle English apprentice, apprentesse, apprentyse, apprentis, from Old French aprentis, plural of aprentif, from Old French aprendre (verb), Late Latin apprendō, from Classical Latin apprehendō. Compare typologically Latin discipulus (akin t... 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 “apprentice”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is A-P-P-R-E-N-T-I-C-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /əˈpɹɛntɪs/ (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