cabinet

/ˈkæb.ɪ.nɪt/

//ˈkæb.ɪ.nɪt// noun

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

The verdict

“cabinet” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #3,044 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#3,044
frequency rank, English
7
letters
10
tracked misspellings
6
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A storage closet either separate from, or built into, a wall.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

cabinet vs canine
71% similar
cabinet vs carbine
71% similar
cabinet vs clarinet
75% similar

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

Key facts for cabinet
PropertyValue
Headwordcabinet
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈkæb.ɪ.nɪt/
Letters7
Frequency rank#3,044
Misspellings tracked10
Confusable pairs6
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “cabinet” 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). cabinet 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 cabinet is 7 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈkæb.ɪ.nɪt/. Corpus data places it at rank #3,044 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 14 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 10 likely wrong-spelling variants for cabinet, with forms such as "acbinet", "cabbinet", and "cabient". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. It also participates in 6 confusable-pair relationships, "canine", "carbine", "clarinet", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From cabin + -et, influenced by French cabinet. In sense of “a government group”, compare salon, also named for a room used to gather. The correct English form is cabinet, spelled C-A-B-I-N-E-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    A storage closet either separate from, or built into, a wall.
  2. 2
    A cupboard.
  3. 3
    A museum display case.
  4. 4
    A source of valuable things; a storehouse.
  5. 5
    The upright assembly that houses a coin-operated arcade game, a cab.
  6. 6
    A size of photograph, specifically one measuring 3⅞" by 5½".
  7. 7
    A group of advisors to a government or business entity.
  8. 8
    In parliamentary and some other systems of government, the group of ministers responsible for creating government policy and for overseeing the departments comprising the executive branch.
  9. 9
    In parliamentary and some other systems of government, the group of ministers responsible for creating government policy and for overseeing the departments comprising the executive branch.
  10. 10
    A small chamber or private room.
  11. 11
    A collection of art or ethnographic objects.
  12. 12
    Milkshake.
  13. 13
    A hut; a cottage; a small house.
  14. 14
    An enclosure for mechanical or electrical equipment.

Etymology

From cabin + -et, influenced by French cabinet. In sense of “a government group”, compare salon, also named for a room used to gather.

Synonyms

cabinet agencycabinet departmentprogram cabinetsuperagency

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: acbinet,cabbinet,cabient,cabinett,cabinnet,cabinte,cabniet,caibnet,cbainet,ccabinet

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

acbinet2cabbinet1cabient2cabinett1cabinnet1cabinte2cabniet2caibnet2
Edit distance from "cabinet"

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 "cabinet"?
"cabinet" is spelled C-A-B-I-N-E-T. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈkæb.ɪ.nɪt/.
What does "cabinet" mean?
As a noun, "cabinet" means: A storage closet either separate from, or built into, a wall.
What words are commonly confused with "cabinet"?
"cabinet" is commonly confused with "canine", "carbine", "clarinet". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "cabinet"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "cabinet" is /ˈkæb.ɪ.nɪt/. 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 "cabinet"?
From cabin + -et, influenced by French cabinet. In sense of “a government group”, compare salon, also named for a room used to gather. 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 “cabinet”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is C-A-B-I-N-E-T - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈkæb.ɪ.nɪt/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “canine” - see the side-by-side comparison. cabinet vs canine
  • 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