backlog

/ˈbæk.lɒɡ/

//ˈbæk.lɒɡ// noun

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

"backlog" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“backlog” has 11 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #22,006. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#22,006
frequency rank, English
4,121
“B” headwords
11
tracked misspellings
1
confusable pair

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - A large log to burn at the back of a fire.

Corpus desk

Index EN-backlog · backlog · English

backlog · rank #22,006 · 11 variants · 1 confusable

  • FREQ-MID #22,006
  • LEN-LONG 7 letters
  • VOW-2 2 vowels
  • CONFUS-LOW 1 pairs
  • VAR-MID 11 variants
  • BOOK-MID 4,121
  • PHOTO-FINISH babysitting

Nearest frequency peer: babysitting (-1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Rank peers near misspelling magnet “backlog”

Same rarity band: useful when a typo lands on a peer headword

corpus weight

What this shows “backlog” sits among these FrequencyWords peers; misspelling depth is tracked separately in the edit-distance chart.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

backlog vs backing
71% similar

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

Key facts for backlog
PropertyValue
Headwordbacklog
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈbæk.lɒɡ/
Letters7
Frequency rank#22,006
Misspellings tracked11
Confusable pairs1
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “backlog”

Word frequency stretches from the small set of words we reach for constantly (left) out to the long tail barely used once in a while (right).backloglands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Ticks step logarithmically, so each one marks a roughly tenfold drop in how often the word turns up. Same rarity band neighbours include “babysitting” (#22,005), “babysitter” (#22,004), “Bengali” (#22,008). Among 4,121 “B” headwords, “backlog” is #22,006. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 11 spelling variants around backlog (IPA /ˈbæk.lɒɡ/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #22,006 among 4,121 “B” headwords. Wiktionary lists 4 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 11 likely wrong-spelling variants for backlog, with forms such as "abcklog", "baccklog", and "backklog". 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, "backing", where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From back + log. 1680s; originally a large log at the back of a fire. Figurative sense from 1880s, meaning "something stored up for later use". Possibly influenced by logbook as well. The correct English form is backlog, spelled B-A-C-K-L-O-G.

Definition

  1. 1
    A large log to burn at the back of a fire.
  2. 2
    A reserve source or supply.
  3. 3
    An accumulation or buildup, especially of unfilled orders, unconsumed products or unfinished work.
  4. 4
    A log containing text previously read, as in text-based video games or chat rooms.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how backlog appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. While she was preparing my breakfast, I chopped off a backlog and put it on the fire,[…]
  2. He threw it on the fire for a back-log, first scraping the live coals and ashes to a heap for his damper.

Etymology

From back + log. 1680s; originally a large log at the back of a fire. Figurative sense from 1880s, meaning "something stored up for later use". Possibly influenced by logbook as well.

This word in other languages

acúmulo(Español)arriéré(Français)Nachholbedarf(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • abcklog
  • baccklog
  • backklog
  • backlgo
  • backllog
  • backlogg
  • backolg
  • baclkog
  • bakclog
  • bbacklog
  • bcaklog

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

abcklog2baccklog1backklog1backlgo2backllog1backlogg1backolg2baclkog2
Edit distance from "backlog"

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 "backlog"?
"backlog" is spelled B-A-C-K-L-O-G. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈbæk.lɒɡ/.
What does "backlog" mean?
As a noun, "backlog" means: A large log to burn at the back of a fire.
What words are commonly confused with "backlog"?
"backlog" is commonly confused with "backing". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "backlog"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "backlog" is /ˈbæk.lɒɡ/. 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 "backlog"?
From back + log. 1680s; originally a large log at the back of a fire. Figurative sense from 1880s, meaning "something stored up for later use". Possibly influenced by logbook as well. 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.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "backlog", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 7 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

Bengali#22,008antigen#21,994brownie#22,020bunnies#22,021

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (11 here; floor ≥5).

alchemy11 variantsZachary11 variantscarousel11 variantswhopping11 variants

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list