cap

/kæp/

//kæp// noun

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

"cap" is a 3-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“cap” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #2,929 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#2,929
frequency rank, English
3
letters
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A close-fitting hat, either brimless or peaked.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

cap vs co
33% similar
cap vs CD
0% similar
cap vs CM
0% similar

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

Key facts for cap
PropertyValue
Headwordcap
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/kæp/
Letters3
Frequency rank#2,929
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “cap” 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). cap 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 cap is 3 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /kæp/. Corpus data places it at rank #2,929 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 22 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

The misspelling generator found no plausible variants for cap, and the word's spelling is regular enough that our generator found nothing worth flagging. It also participates in 20 confusable-pair relationships, "co", "CD", "CM", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: Inherited from Middle English cappe, from Old English cæppe, from Proto-West Germanic *kappā (“covering, hood, mantle”), from Late Latin cappa, itself from Latin caput. Doublet of cape, chape, and cope. The correct English form is cap, spelled C-A-P.

Definition

  1. 1
    A close-fitting hat, either brimless or peaked.
  2. 2
    A special hat to indicate rank, occupation, etc.
  3. 3
    An academic mortarboard.
  4. 4
    A protective cover or seal.
  5. 5
    A crown for covering a tooth.
  6. 6
    The summit of a mountain, etc.
  7. 7
    An artificial upper limit or ceiling.
  8. 8
    The top part of a mushroom.
  9. 9
    A small amount of percussive explosive in a paper strip or plastic cup for use in a toy gun.
  10. 10
    A small explosive device used to detonate a larger charge of explosives.
  11. 11
    A bullet used to shoot someone.
  12. 12
    A lie or exaggeration.
  13. 13
    A place on a national team; an international appearance.
  14. 14
    The top, or uppermost part; the chief.
  15. 15
    A respectful uncovering of the head.
  16. 16
    The whole top of the head of a bird from the base of the bill to the nape of the neck.
  17. 17
    The uppermost of any assemblage of parts.
  18. 18
    Something covering the top or end of a thing for protection or ornament.
  19. 19
    A collar of iron or wood used in joining spars, as the mast and the topmast, the bowsprit and the jib boom; also, a covering of tarred canvas at the end of a rope.
  20. 20
    A portion of a spherical or other convex surface.
  21. 21
    A large size of writing paper.
  22. 22
    Popcorn.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English cappe, from Old English cæppe, from Proto-West Germanic *kappā (“covering, hood, mantle”), from Late Latin cappa, itself from Latin caput. Doublet of cape, chape, and cope.

This word in other languages

gorro(Español)bonnet(Français)Mütze(Deutsch)boné(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 "cap"?
"cap" is spelled C-A-P. The IPA pronunciation is /kæp/.
What does "cap" mean?
As a noun, "cap" means: A close-fitting hat, either brimless or peaked.
What words are commonly confused with "cap"?
"cap" is commonly confused with "co", "CD", "CM". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "cap"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "cap" is /kæp/. 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 "cap"?
Inherited from Middle English cappe, from Old English cæppe, from Proto-West Germanic *kappā (“covering, hood, mantle”), from Late Latin cappa, itself from Latin caput. Doublet of cape, chape, and cope. 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 “cap”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is C-A-P - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /kæp/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “co” - see the side-by-side comparison. cap vs co
  • 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