auricular

/ɔːˈɹɪk.jʊl.ə/

//ɔːˈɹɪk.jʊl.ə// adj

"auricular" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“auricular” is an uncommon English word, ranked #96,753 in English word frequency and used as an adjective.

#96,753
frequency rank, English
9
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Of or pertaining to the ear.

Key facts for auricular
PropertyValue
Headwordauricular
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ɔːˈɹɪk.jʊl.ə/
Letters9
Frequency rank#96,753
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “auricular” 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). auricular 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 auricular is 9 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɔːˈɹɪk.jʊl.ə/. Corpus data places it at rank #96,753 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 6 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Zero misspellings are on record for auricular in our index, a straightforward case of a spelling with little room for common typos. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, which tends to mean the word is visually distinctive enough to stand on its own.

Etymologically, the entry records: Late Middle English, borrowed from Late Latin auriculāris, from auricula (“the external ear; the ear”) + -āris (“-ar”, adjectival suffix); equivalent to auricle + -ar. Doublet of auricularis. The correct English form is auricular, spelled A-U-R-I-C-U-L-A-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    Of or pertaining to the ear.
  2. 2
    Of or pertaining to the ear.
  3. 3
    Of or pertaining to the ear.
  4. 4
    Of or pertaining to the ear.
  5. 5
    Pertaining to the auricles of the heart.
  6. 6
    Pertaining to a style of ornamental decoration, originating in Northern Europe in the first half of the 17th century, that uses softly flowing abstract shapes in relief some of which bear a resemblance to the human ear; commonly used in silverware, picture frames, and architecture.

Etymology

Late Middle English, borrowed from Late Latin auriculāris, from auricula (“the external ear; the ear”) + -āris (“-ar”, adjectival suffix); equivalent to auricle + -ar. Doublet of auricularis.

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); 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 "auricular"?
"auricular" is spelled A-U-R-I-C-U-L-A-R. The IPA pronunciation is /ɔːˈɹɪk.jʊl.ə/.
What does "auricular" mean?
As an adjective, "auricular" means: Of or pertaining to the ear.
How do you pronounce "auricular"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "auricular" is /ɔːˈɹɪk.jʊl.ə/. 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 "auricular"?
Late Middle English, borrowed from Late Latin auriculāris, from auricula (“the external ear; the ear”) + -āris (“-ar”, adjectival suffix); equivalent to auricle + -ar. Doublet of auricularis. 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 “auricular”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is A-U-R-I-C-U-L-A-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ɔːˈɹɪk.jʊl.ə/ (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