catapult

/ˈkæ.tə.pʌlt/

//ˈkæ.tə.pʌlt// noun

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

"catapult" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“catapult” has 12 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #28,481. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#28,481
frequency rank, English
43,570
“C” headwords
12
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A device or weapon for throwing or launching large objects.

Key facts for catapult
PropertyValue
Headwordcatapult
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈkæ.tə.pʌlt/
Letters8
Frequency rank#28,481
Misspellings tracked12
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “catapult” 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). catapult lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 12 spelling variants around catapult (IPA /ˈkæ.tə.pʌlt/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #28,481 among 43,570 “C” headwords. Wiktionary lists 5 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 12 likely wrong-spelling variants for catapult, with forms such as "actapult", "caatpult", and "cataplut". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. Our dataset records no confusable match here, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle French catapulte, from Latin catapulta, from Ancient Greek καταπέλτης (katapéltēs), from κατά (katá, “downwards, into, against”) + πάλλω (pállō, “I poise or sway a missile before it is thrown”). Doublet of catapulta. The correct English form is catapult, spelled C-A-T-A-P-U-L-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    A device or weapon for throwing or launching large objects.
  2. 2
    A mechanical aid on aircraft carriers designed to help airplanes take off from the flight deck.
  3. 3
    A slingshot.
  4. 4
    An instance of firing a missile from a catapult.
  5. 5
    An instance of firing something, as if from a catapult.

Etymology

From Middle French catapulte, from Latin catapulta, from Ancient Greek καταπέλτης (katapéltēs), from κατά (katá, “downwards, into, against”) + πάλλω (pállō, “I poise or sway a missile before it is thrown”). Doublet of catapulta.

This word in other languages

catapulta(Español)catapulte(Français)Katapult(Deutsch)catapulta(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • actapult
  • caatpult
  • cataplut
  • catappult
  • catapullt
  • catapultt
  • cataputl
  • catauplt
  • catpault
  • cattapult
  • ccatapult
  • ctaapult

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of catapult - 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.

actapult2caatpult2cataplut2catappult1catapullt1catapultt1cataputl2catauplt2
Edit distance from "catapult"

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 "catapult"?
"catapult" is spelled C-A-T-A-P-U-L-T. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈkæ.tə.pʌlt/.
What does "catapult" mean?
As a noun, "catapult" means: A device or weapon for throwing or launching large objects.
What are common misspellings of "catapult"?
Common misspellings include "actapult", "caatpult", "cataplut", "catappult", "catapullt". The correct spelling is "catapult".
How do you pronounce "catapult"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "catapult" is /ˈkæ.tə.pʌlt/. 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 "catapult"?
From Middle French catapulte, from Latin catapulta, from Ancient Greek καταπέλτης (katapéltēs), from κατά (katá, “downwards, into, against”) + πάλλω (pállō, “I poise or sway a missile before it is thrown”). Doublet of catapulta. 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 “catapult”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is C-A-T-A-P-U-L-T - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈkæ.tə.pʌlt/ (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

Same frequency band

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