bounden

/ˈbaʊnd(ə)n/

//ˈbaʊnd(ə)n// adj

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

The verdict

“bounden” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as an adjective - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
7
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Now chiefly in "bounden duty": made obligatory; binding.

Key facts for bounden
PropertyValue
Headwordbounden
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˈbaʊnd(ə)n/
Letters7
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “bounden” sits in English frequency

bounden 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 bounden is 7 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈbaʊnd(ə)n/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 2 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

bounden has no tracked misspelling variants, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. It is not paired with a close-neighbour confusable in our dataset, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: From bound + -en, the archaic past participle of bind. The correct English form is bounden, spelled B-O-U-N-D-E-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    Now chiefly in "bounden duty": made obligatory; binding.
  2. 2
    Bound.

Etymology

From bound + -en, the archaic past participle of bind.

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 "bounden"?
"bounden" is spelled B-O-U-N-D-E-N. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈbaʊnd(ə)n/.
What does "bounden" mean?
As an adjective, "bounden" means: Now chiefly in "bounden duty": made obligatory; binding.
How do you pronounce "bounden"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "bounden" is /ˈbaʊnd(ə)n/. 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 "bounden"?
From bound + -en, the archaic past participle of bind. 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 “bounden”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is B-O-U-N-D-E-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈbaʊnd(ə)n/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • 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