biceps

/ˈbaɪ.sɛps/

//ˈbaɪ.sɛps// noun

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

The verdict

“biceps” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #26,697 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#26,697
frequency rank, English
6
letters
9
tracked misspellings
3
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Any muscle having two heads.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

biceps vs bites
67% similar
biceps vs beeps
67% similar
biceps vs bicep
83% similar

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

Key facts for biceps
PropertyValue
Headwordbiceps
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈbaɪ.sɛps/
Letters6
Frequency rank#26,697
Misspellings tracked9
Confusable pairs3
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “biceps” 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). biceps 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 biceps is 6 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈbaɪ.sɛps/. Corpus data places it at rank #26,697 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 4 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 9 likely wrong-spelling variants for biceps, with forms such as "bbiceps", "bcieps", and "bicceps". 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 3 confusable-pair relationships, "bites", "beeps", "bicep", where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: PIE word *dwóh₁ From Latin biceps (“double-headed, two-peaked”), from bis (“double”) + caput (“head”). See there for more details. The correct English form is biceps, spelled B-I-C-E-P-S.

Definition

  1. 1
    Any muscle having two heads.
  2. 2
    Specifically, the biceps brachii, the flexor of the elbow.
  3. 3
    The upper arm, especially the collective muscles of the upper arm.
  4. 4
    A point in a metrical pattern that can be filled either with one long syllable (a longum) or two short syllables (two brevia).

Etymology

PIE word *dwóh₁ From Latin biceps (“double-headed, two-peaked”), from bis (“double”) + caput (“head”). See there for more details.

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: bbiceps,bcieps,bicceps,bicepps,bicepss,bicesp,bicpes,biecps,ibceps

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

bbiceps1bcieps2bicceps1bicepps1bicepss1bicesp2bicpes2biecps2
Edit distance from "biceps"

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 "biceps"?
"biceps" is spelled B-I-C-E-P-S. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈbaɪ.sɛps/.
What does "biceps" mean?
As a noun, "biceps" means: Any muscle having two heads.
What words are commonly confused with "biceps"?
"biceps" is commonly confused with "bites", "beeps", "bicep". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "biceps"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "biceps" is /ˈbaɪ.sɛps/. 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 "biceps"?
PIE word *dwóh₁ From Latin biceps (“double-headed, two-peaked”), from bis (“double”) + caput (“head”). See there for more details. 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 “biceps”

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

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