autograph

/ˈɔːtəɡɹɑːf/

//ˈɔːtəɡɹɑːf// noun

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

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

The verdict

“autograph” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #15,102 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#15,102
frequency rank, English
9
letters
13
tracked misspellings
1
confusable pair

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A person’s own handwriting, especially the signature of a famous or admired person.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

autograph vs autographed
82% similar

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

Key facts for autograph
PropertyValue
Headwordautograph
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈɔːtəɡɹɑːf/
Letters9
Frequency rank#15,102
Misspellings tracked13
Confusable pairs1
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “autograph” 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). autograph 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 autograph is 9 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈɔːtəɡɹɑːf/. Corpus data places it at rank #15,102 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 13 likely wrong-spelling variants for autograph, with forms such as "atuograph", "auotgraph", and "autgoraph". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 1 confusable-pair relationship, "autographed", where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Latin autographum, in turn from Ancient Greek αὐτόγραφον (autógraphon, “a writing in one’s own hand”). Equivalent to auto- + -graph. The correct English form is autograph, spelled A-U-T-O-G-R-A-P-H.

Definition

  1. 1
    A person’s own handwriting, especially the signature of a famous or admired person.
  2. 2
    A person's signature used as a mark of formal approval.
  3. 3
    A manuscript in the author’s handwriting; a handwritten copy.

Etymology

From Latin autographum, in turn from Ancient Greek αὐτόγραφον (autógraphon, “a writing in one’s own hand”). Equivalent to auto- + -graph.

Synonyms

penmanshiphandwritingchirographysignatureinscriptionprotographholographarchetypeoriginal

This word in other languages

firma(Español)signature(Français)Autogramm(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: atuograph,auotgraph,autgoraph,autogarph,autoggraph,autograhp,autographh,autograpph,autogrpah,autogrraph,autorgaph,auttograph,uatograph

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

atuograph2auotgraph2autgoraph2autogarph2autoggraph1autograhp2autographh1autograpph1
Edit distance from "autograph"

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 "autograph"?
"autograph" is spelled A-U-T-O-G-R-A-P-H. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈɔːtəɡɹɑːf/.
What does "autograph" mean?
As a noun, "autograph" means: A person’s own handwriting, especially the signature of a famous or admired person.
What words are commonly confused with "autograph"?
"autograph" is commonly confused with "autographed". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "autograph"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "autograph" is /ˈɔːtəɡɹɑːf/. 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 "autograph"?
From Latin autographum, in turn from Ancient Greek αὐτόγραφον (autógraphon, “a writing in one’s own hand”). Equivalent to auto- + -graph. 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 “autograph”

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

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