binary

/ˈbaɪ.nə.ɹɪ/

//ˈbaɪ.nə.ɹɪ// adj

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

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

The verdict

“binary” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #7,652 in English word frequency and used as an adjective.

#7,652
frequency rank, English
6
letters
9
tracked misspellings
1
confusable pair

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Being in one of two mutually exclusive states.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

binary vs Bihar
50% similar

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

Key facts for binary
PropertyValue
Headwordbinary
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˈbaɪ.nə.ɹɪ/
Letters6
Frequency rank#7,652
Misspellings tracked9
Confusable pairs1
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “binary” 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). binary 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 binary is 6 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈbaɪ.nə.ɹɪ/. Corpus data places it at rank #7,652 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 8 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 binary, with forms such as "bbinary", "bianry", and "binarry". 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, "Bihar", since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Late Latin bīnārius (“consisting of two”), from Latin bīnī (“two-by-two, pair”). By surface analysis, bin- + -ary. The correct English form is binary, spelled B-I-N-A-R-Y.

Definition

  1. 1
    Being in one of two mutually exclusive states.
  2. 2
    Concerning logic whose subject matter concerns such states.
  3. 3
    Concerning numbers and calculations using the binary number system.
  4. 4
    Having two equally important parts; related to something with two parts.
  5. 5
    Of an operation, function, procedure, or logic gate, taking exactly two operands, arguments, parameters, or inputs; having domain of dimension 2.
  6. 6
    Of data, consisting coded values (e.g. machine code) not interpretable as plain or ASCII text (e.g. source code).
  7. 7
    Focusing on two mutually exclusive conditions.
  8. 8
    Having or pertaining to a gender identity represented by the gender binary; either male or female.

Etymology

From Late Latin bīnārius (“consisting of two”), from Latin bīnī (“two-by-two, pair”). By surface analysis, bin- + -ary.

Synonyms

black-and-white

Antonyms

non-binary

This word in other languages

binario(Español)binaire(Français)binär(Deutsch)binário(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: bbinary,bianry,binarry,binaryy,binayr,binnary,binray,bniary,ibnary

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of binary - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

bbinary1bianry2binarry1binaryy1binayr2binnary1binray2bniary2
Edit distance from "binary"

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 "binary"?
"binary" is spelled B-I-N-A-R-Y. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈbaɪ.nə.ɹɪ/.
What does "binary" mean?
As an adjective, "binary" means: Being in one of two mutually exclusive states.
What words are commonly confused with "binary"?
"binary" is commonly confused with "Bihar". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "binary"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "binary" is /ˈbaɪ.nə.ɹɪ/. 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 "binary"?
From Late Latin bīnārius (“consisting of two”), from Latin bīnī (“two-by-two, pair”). By surface analysis, bin- + -ary. 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 “binary”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is B-I-N-A-R-Y - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈbaɪ.nə.ɹɪ/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “Bihar” - see the side-by-side comparison. binary vs Bihar
  • 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