basset

/ˈbæsɪt/

//ˈbæsɪt// noun

"basset" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“basset” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #45,804 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#45,804
frequency rank, English
6
letters
6
tracked misspellings
15
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The edge of a geological stratum at the surface of the ground; the outcrop.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

basset vs bast
67% similar
basset vs beset
67% similar
basset vs busses
67% similar

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

Key facts for basset
PropertyValue
Headwordbasset
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈbæsɪt/
Letters6
Frequency rank#45,804
Misspellings tracked6
Confusable pairs15
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “basset” 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). basset 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 basset is 6 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈbæsɪt/. Corpus data places it at rank #45,804 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 6 likely wrong-spelling variants for basset, with forms such as "absset", "basest", and "baset". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. It also participates in 15 confusable-pair relationships, "bast", "beset", "busses", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From French bassette, from Italian bassetta. The correct English form is basset, spelled B-A-S-S-E-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    The edge of a geological stratum at the surface of the ground; the outcrop.
  2. 2
    A basset hound.
  3. 3
    A card game resembling faro.

Etymology

From French bassette, from Italian bassetta.

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: absset,basest,baset,basste,bbasset,bsaset

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of basset - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

absset2basest2baset1basste2bbasset1bsaset2
Edit distance from "basset"

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 "basset"?
"basset" is spelled B-A-S-S-E-T. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈbæsɪt/.
What does "basset" mean?
As a noun, "basset" means: The edge of a geological stratum at the surface of the ground; the outcrop.
What words are commonly confused with "basset"?
"basset" is commonly confused with "bast", "beset", "busses". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "basset"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "basset" is /ˈbæsɪt/. 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 "basset"?
From French bassette, from Italian bassetta. 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 “basset”

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

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