approved

/əˈpɹuːvd/

//əˈpɹuːvd// adj

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

The verdict

“approved” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #2,280 in English word frequency and used as an adjective.

#2,280
frequency rank, English
8
letters
10
tracked misspellings
3
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Having received approval.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

approved vs approves
88% similar
approved vs approve
88% similar
approved vs approval
75% similar

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

Key facts for approved
PropertyValue
Headwordapproved
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/əˈpɹuːvd/
Letters8
Frequency rank#2,280
Misspellings tracked10
Confusable pairs3
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “approved” 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). approved 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 approved is 8 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /əˈpɹuːvd/. Corpus data places it at rank #2,280 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 2 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 10 likely wrong-spelling variants for approved, with forms such as "apporved", "approevd", and "approvde". 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 3 confusable-pair relationships, "approves", "approve", "approval", a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

No borrowing history is documented for this entry, so its spelling is easiest explained by how it's pronounced rather than where it came from. The correct English form is approved, spelled A-P-P-R-O-V-E-D.

Definition

  1. 1
    Having received approval.
  2. 2
    Proven or demonstrated by experience.

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: apporved,approevd,approvde,approvedd,approvved,apprroved,apprvoed,aproved,aprpoved,paproved

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

apporved2approevd2approvde2approvedd1approvved1apprroved1apprvoed2aproved1
Edit distance from "approved"

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 "approved"?
"approved" is spelled A-P-P-R-O-V-E-D. The IPA pronunciation is /əˈpɹuːvd/.
What does "approved" mean?
As an adjective, "approved" means: Having received approval.
What words are commonly confused with "approved"?
"approved" is commonly confused with "approves", "approve", "approval". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "approved"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "approved" is /əˈpɹuːvd/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "approved" come from?
"approved" is a English word. PlainSpell covers definitions, pronunciations, and spelling data across English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German.
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 “approved”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is A-P-P-R-O-V-E-D - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /əˈpɹuːvd/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “approves” - see the side-by-side comparison. approved vs approves
  • 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