apron

/ˈeɪ.pɹən/

//ˈeɪ.pɹən// noun

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

"apron" is a 5-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“apron” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #18,015 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#18,015
frequency rank, English
5
letters
7
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - An article of clothing worn over the front of the torso and/or legs for protection from spills; also historically worn by Freemasons and as part of women's fashion.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

apron vs aro
60% similar
apron vs ARN
0% similar
apron vs Avon
40% similar

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

Key facts for apron
PropertyValue
Headwordapron
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈeɪ.pɹən/
Letters5
Frequency rank#18,015
Misspellings tracked7
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “apron” 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). apron 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 apron is 5 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈeɪ.pɹən/. Corpus data places it at rank #18,015 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 12 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 7 likely wrong-spelling variants for apron, with forms such as "aporn", "appron", and "aprno". 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 20 confusable-pair relationships, "aro", "ARN", "Avon", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: Rebracketing of napron (a napron → an apron), from Middle English naperoun, napron, apron, from Old French napperon, diminutive of nappe (“tablecloth”), from Latin mappa (“napkin”). For other similar cases of rebracketing, see adder, daffodil, newt, nicknam… The correct English form is apron, spelled A-P-R-O-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    An article of clothing worn over the front of the torso and/or legs for protection from spills; also historically worn by Freemasons and as part of women's fashion.
  2. 2
    The short cassock ordinarily worn by English bishops.
  3. 3
    A hard surface bordering a structure or area.
  4. 4
    A hard surface bordering a structure or area.
  5. 5
    A hard surface bordering a structure or area.
  6. 6
    A hard surface bordering a structure or area.
  7. 7
    A hard surface bordering a structure or area.
  8. 8
    A hard surface bordering a structure or area.
  9. 9
    A raised panel below a window or wall monument or tablet.
  10. 10
    The sides of a tree's canopy.
  11. 11
    The cap of a cannon; a piece of lead laid over the vent to keep the priming dry.
  12. 12
    A removable cover for the passengers' feet and legs in an open horse carriage.

Etymology

Rebracketing of napron (a napron → an apron), from Middle English naperoun, napron, apron, from Old French napperon, diminutive of nappe (“tablecloth”), from Latin mappa (“napkin”). For other similar cases of rebracketing, see adder, daffodil, newt, nickname, orange, trickle, umpire.

This word in other languages

delantal(Español)tablier(Français)Schürze(Deutsch)avental(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: aporn,appron,aprno,apronn,aprron,arpon,paron

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

aporn2appron1aprno2apronn1aprron1arpon2paron2
Edit distance from "apron"

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 "apron"?
"apron" is spelled A-P-R-O-N. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈeɪ.pɹən/.
What does "apron" mean?
As a noun, "apron" means: An article of clothing worn over the front of the torso and/or legs for protection from spills; also historically worn by Freemasons and as part of women's fashion.
What words are commonly confused with "apron"?
"apron" is commonly confused with "aro", "ARN", "Avon". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "apron"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "apron" is /ˈeɪ.pɹən/. 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 "apron"?
Rebracketing of napron (a napron → an apron), from Middle English naperoun, napron, apron, from Old French napperon, diminutive of nappe (“tablecloth”), from Latin mappa (“napkin”). For other similar cases of rebracketing, see adder, daffodil, new... 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 “apron”

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

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