asterism
/ˈas.təˌɹɪz.əm/
"asterism" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“asterism” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 8
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - An unofficial constellation (small group of stars that forms a visible pattern).
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | asterism |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Noun |
| IPA | /ˈas.təˌɹɪz.əm/ |
| Letters | 8 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “asterism” sits in English frequency
Rare enough to double-check
asterism is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈas.təˌɹɪz.əm/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 3 senses are on record.
We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for asterism, a sign its spelling follows regular English conventions. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.
Etymologically, the entry records: From Ancient Greek ἀστερισμός (asterismós, “group of stars”), from ἀστήρ (astḗr, “star”). Analyzable as aster- + -ism. The correct English form is asterism, spelled A-S-T-E-R-I-S-M.
Definition
- 1An unofficial constellation (small group of stars that forms a visible pattern).
- 2A rarely used typographical symbol of three asterisks arranged in a triangle, ⁂, used to call attention to a passage or to separate subchapters in a book. Distinct from a dinkus which also uses asterisks to separate.
- 3A star-shaped figure exhibited by some crystals by reflected light (as in a star sapphire) or by transmitted light (as in some mica).
Etymology
From Ancient Greek ἀστερισμός (asterismós, “group of stars”), from ἀστήρ (astḗr, “star”). Analyzable as aster- + -ism.
This word in other languages
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Using “asterism”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is A-S-T-E-R-I-S-M - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /ˈas.təˌɹɪz.əm/ (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.