buttonhole

/ˈbʌtənˌhoʊl/

//ˈbʌtənˌhoʊl// noun

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

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

The verdict

“buttonhole” is an uncommon English word, ranked #76,609 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#76,609
frequency rank, English
10
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A hole through which a button is pushed to secure a garment or some part of one.

Key facts for buttonhole
PropertyValue
Headwordbuttonhole
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈbʌtənˌhoʊl/
Letters10
Frequency rank#76,609
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “buttonhole” 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). buttonhole 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 buttonhole is 10 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈbʌtənˌhoʊl/. Corpus data places it at rank #76,609 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 7 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

buttonhole has no tracked misspelling variants, a straightforward case of a spelling with little room for common typos. Our dataset records no confusable match here, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

Etymologically, the entry records: Originally buttonhold (“a loop of string to hold a button down”), but changed by folk etymology by influence of hole, By surface analysis, button + hole. The correct English form is buttonhole, spelled B-U-T-T-O-N-H-O-L-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    A hole through which a button is pushed to secure a garment or some part of one.
  2. 2
    A flower worn in a buttonhole for decoration.
  3. 3
    A flower worn in a buttonhole for decoration.
  4. 4
    A small slot-like cut or incision, made for example by an accident with the scalpel.
  5. 5
    The mouth, nose or eyes of a tiny appearance.
  6. 6
    vagina, coin slot.
  7. 7
    The butthole (anus).

Etymology

Originally buttonhold (“a loop of string to hold a button down”), but changed by folk etymology by influence of hole, By surface analysis, button + hole.

This word in other languages

ojal(Español)boutonnière(Français)Knopfloch(Deutsch)casa(Português)

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 "buttonhole"?
"buttonhole" is spelled B-U-T-T-O-N-H-O-L-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈbʌtənˌhoʊl/.
What does "buttonhole" mean?
As a noun, "buttonhole" means: A hole through which a button is pushed to secure a garment or some part of one.
How do you pronounce "buttonhole"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "buttonhole" is /ˈbʌtənˌhoʊl/. 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 "buttonhole"?
Originally buttonhold (“a loop of string to hold a button down”), but changed by folk etymology by influence of hole, By surface analysis, button + hole. 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 “buttonhole”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is B-U-T-T-O-N-H-O-L-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈbʌtənˌhoʊl/ (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