carton

/ˈkɑːtən/

//ˈkɑːtən// noun

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

"carton" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“carton” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #22,606 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#22,606
frequency rank, English
6
letters
9
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - An inexpensive, disposable box-like container fashioned from either paper, paper with wax-covering (wax paper), or other lightweight material.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

carton vs Cato
50% similar
carton vs carts
67% similar
carton vs cotton
67% similar

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

Key facts for carton
PropertyValue
Headwordcarton
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈkɑːtən/
Letters6
Frequency rank#22,606
Misspellings tracked9
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “carton” 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). carton 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 carton is 6 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈkɑːtən/. Corpus data places it at rank #22,606 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 6 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 9 likely wrong-spelling variants for carton, with forms such as "acrton", "carotn", and "carrton". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 20 confusable-pair relationships, "Cato", "carts", "cotton", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from French carton, from Italian cartone. Doublet of cartoon. The correct English form is carton, spelled C-A-R-T-O-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    An inexpensive, disposable box-like container fashioned from either paper, paper with wax-covering (wax paper), or other lightweight material.
  2. 2
    A pack of cigarettes, usually ten, wrapped in cellophane or packed in a light cardboard box.
  3. 3
    A cardboard box that holds (usually 24) beer bottles or cans.
  4. 4
    A kind of thin pasteboard.
  5. 5
    A small disc within the bullseye of a target.
  6. 6
    A shot that strikes this disc.

Etymology

Borrowed from French carton, from Italian cartone. Doublet of cartoon.

This word in other languages

caja(Español)carton(Français)Karton(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: acrton,carotn,carrton,cartno,cartonn,cartton,catron,ccarton,craton

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of carton - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

acrton2carotn2carrton1cartno2cartonn1cartton1catron2ccarton1
Edit distance from "carton"

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 "carton"?
"carton" is spelled C-A-R-T-O-N. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈkɑːtən/.
What does "carton" mean?
As a noun, "carton" means: An inexpensive, disposable box-like container fashioned from either paper, paper with wax-covering (wax paper), or other lightweight material.
What words are commonly confused with "carton"?
"carton" is commonly confused with "Cato", "carts", "cotton". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "carton"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "carton" is /ˈkɑːtən/. 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 "carton"?
Borrowed from French carton, from Italian cartone. Doublet of cartoon. 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 “carton”

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

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