body double

noun

"body-double" is a 10-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“body double” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a noun - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
11
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A film stand-in for an actor, in scenes not involving the face, especially during scenes of nudity, or of dangerous activity.

Key facts for body double
PropertyValue
Headwordbody double
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
Letters11
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “body double” sits in English frequency

body double falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for body double is 11 letters long, classified as a noun. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

body double has no tracked misspelling variants, which points to an orthography that plays by predictable English rules. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: The psychological sense was coined by ADHD coach Linda Anderson in 1996. The correct English form is body double, spelled B-O-D-Y- -D-O-U-B-L-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    A film stand-in for an actor, in scenes not involving the face, especially during scenes of nudity, or of dangerous activity.
  2. 2
    A political decoy; a person employed to impersonate a politician, in order to draw attention away from the real person or to take risks on their behalf.
  3. 3
    A person who is present nearby — or virtually connected to — a person with ADHD in order to increase their attention and focus.

Etymology

The psychological sense was coined by ADHD coach Linda Anderson in 1996.

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "body double"?
"body double" is spelled B-O-D-Y- -D-O-U-B-L-E.
What does "body double" mean?
As a noun, "body double" means: A film stand-in for an actor, in scenes not involving the face, especially during scenes of nudity, or of dangerous activity.
What is the origin of the word "body double"?
The psychological sense was coined by ADHD coach Linda Anderson in 1996. 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 “body double”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is B-O-D-Y- -D-O-U-B-L-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • 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