attachment

/əˈtæt͡ʃmənt/

//əˈtæt͡ʃmənt// noun

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

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

The verdict

“attachment” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #8,511 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#8,511
frequency rank, English
10
letters
14
tracked misspellings
1
confusable pair

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The act or process of (physically or figuratively) attaching.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

attachment vs attainment
80% similar

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

Key facts for attachment
PropertyValue
Headwordattachment
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/əˈtæt͡ʃmənt/
Letters10
Frequency rank#8,511
Misspellings tracked14
Confusable pairs1
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “attachment” 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). attachment 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 attachment is 10 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /əˈtæt͡ʃmənt/. Corpus data places it at rank #8,511 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 8 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 14 likely wrong-spelling variants for attachment, with forms such as "atachment", "atatchment", and "attacchment". 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, "attainment", a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: From French attachement. By surface analysis, attach + -ment. The correct English form is attachment, spelled A-T-T-A-C-H-M-E-N-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    The act or process of (physically or figuratively) attaching.
  2. 2
    A strong bonding with or fondness for someone or something.
  3. 3
    A dependence, especially a strong one.
  4. 4
    A device attached to a piece of equipment or a tool.
  5. 5
    The means by which something is physically attached.
  6. 6
    A file sent along with a message, usually an email.
  7. 7
    Taking a person's property to satisfy a court-ordered debt.
  8. 8
    The act or process by which any (downward) leader connects to any available (upward) streamer in a lightning flash.

Etymology

From French attachement. By surface analysis, attach + -ment.

This word in other languages

apego(Español)attachement(Français)Attachment(Deutsch)afeição(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: atachment,atatchment,attacchment,attachemnt,attachhment,attachmennt,attachmentt,attachmetn,attachmment,attachmnet,attacmhent,attahcment,attcahment,tatachment

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

atachment1atatchment2attacchment1attachemnt2attachhment1attachmennt1attachmentt1attachmetn2
Edit distance from "attachment"

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 "attachment"?
"attachment" is spelled A-T-T-A-C-H-M-E-N-T. The IPA pronunciation is /əˈtæt͡ʃmənt/.
What does "attachment" mean?
As a noun, "attachment" means: The act or process of (physically or figuratively) attaching.
What words are commonly confused with "attachment"?
"attachment" is commonly confused with "attainment". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "attachment"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "attachment" is /əˈtæt͡ʃmənt/. 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 "attachment"?
From French attachement. By surface analysis, attach + -ment. 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 “attachment”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is A-T-T-A-C-H-M-E-N-T - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /əˈtæt͡ʃmənt/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “attainment” - see the side-by-side comparison. attachment vs attainment
  • 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