caster

/ˈkɑːstə(ɹ)/

//ˈkɑːstə(ɹ)// noun

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

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

The verdict

“caster” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #25,312 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#25,312
frequency rank, English
6
letters
9
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Someone or something that casts.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

caster vs cate
67% similar
caster vs cater
83% similar
caster vs cates
67% similar

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

Key facts for caster
PropertyValue
Headwordcaster
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈkɑːstə(ɹ)/
Letters6
Frequency rank#25,312
Misspellings tracked9
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “caster” 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). caster 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 caster is 6 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈkɑːstə(ɹ)/. Corpus data places it at rank #25,312 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 5 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 caster, with forms such as "acster", "casetr", and "casster". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 20 confusable-pair relationships, "cate", "cater", "cates", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From cast + -er; the wheel sense comes from obsolete cast (“to turn”). The correct English form is caster, spelled C-A-S-T-E-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    Someone or something that casts.
  2. 2
    A wheeled assembly attached to a larger object at its base to facilitate rolling. A caster usually consists of a wheel (which may be plastic, a hard elastomer, or metal), an axle, a mounting provision (usually a stem, flange, or plate), and sometimes a swivel (which allows the caster to rotate for steering).
  3. 3
    A shaker with a perforated top for sprinkling condiments such as sugar, salt, pepper, etc.
  4. 4
    A stand to hold a set of shakers or cruets.
  5. 5
    The angle of the axis around which a car's front wheels rotate when the steering wheel is turned, with a vertical axis being defined as zero caster.

Etymology

From cast + -er; the wheel sense comes from obsolete cast (“to turn”).

This word in other languages

rueda(Español)roulette(Français)Streuer(Deutsch)rodízio(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: acster,casetr,casster,casterr,castre,castter,catser,ccaster,csater

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of caster - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

acster2casetr2casster1casterr1castre2castter1catser2ccaster1
Edit distance from "caster"

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 "caster"?
"caster" is spelled C-A-S-T-E-R. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈkɑːstə(ɹ)/.
What does "caster" mean?
As a noun, "caster" means: Someone or something that casts.
What words are commonly confused with "caster"?
"caster" is commonly confused with "cate", "cater", "cates". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "caster"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "caster" is /ˈkɑːstə(ɹ)/. 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 "caster"?
From cast + -er; the wheel sense comes from obsolete cast (“to turn”). 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 “caster”

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

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