cataract

/ˈkætəɹækt/

//ˈkætəɹækt// noun

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

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

The verdict

“cataract” has 12 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #29,957. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#29,957
frequency rank, English
43,570
“C” headwords
12
tracked misspellings
1
confusable pair

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A (large) waterfall, specifically one flowing over the edge of a cliff.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

cataract vs cataracts
89% similar

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

Key facts for cataract
PropertyValue
Headwordcataract
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈkætəɹækt/
Letters8
Frequency rank#29,957
Misspellings tracked12
Confusable pairs1
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “cataract” 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). cataract 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 cataract (IPA /ˈkætəɹækt/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #29,957 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 cataract, with forms such as "actaract", "caatract", and "cataarct". 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 1 confusable-pair relationship, "cataracts", a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: PIE word *ḱóm The noun is derived from cataracts (noun (plural only)), from Late Middle English cataract, cataracta, cateract, cateracte (“floodgate of heaven”), from Old French cataracte (modern French cataracte), and from its etymon Latin cataracta (“flo… The correct English form is cataract, spelled C-A-T-A-R-A-C-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    A (large) waterfall, specifically one flowing over the edge of a cliff.
  2. 2
    A flood of water; specifically, steep rapids in a river.
  3. 3
    An overwhelming downpour or rush; a flood.
  4. 4
    A type of governor used in single-acting steam engines, where a flow of water through an opening regulates the stroke.
  5. 5
    Synonym of waterspout (“a whirlwind that forms over water”).

Etymology

PIE word *ḱóm The noun is derived from cataracts (noun (plural only)), from Late Middle English cataract, cataracta, cateract, cateracte (“floodgate of heaven”), from Old French cataracte (modern French cataracte), and from its etymon Latin cataracta (“floodgate; waterfall”), from Ancient Greek καταρ(ρ)άκτης (katar(rh)áktēs, “(noun) waterfall; (adjective) rushing downwards”), from καταρ(ρ)ᾱ́σσω (katar(rh)ā́ssō, “to pour down; to rush downwards”) + -της (-tēs, suffix forming nouns denoting a state of being). Καταρ(ρ)ᾱ́σσω (Katar(rh)ā́ssō) is derived either: * from κᾰτᾰ- (kătă-, prefix meaning ‘downwards’) + ἀρᾰ́σσω (arắssō, “to dash to pieces; to strike”) (further etymology unknown, possibly onomatopoeic) or ῥᾱ́σσω (rhā́ssō, “to dash; to strike”) (possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *wreh₂ǵʰ- (“to pound, strike”)); or * from καταρρηγνύναι (katarrhēgnúnai, “to break down”). The verb is derived from the noun.

This word in other languages

catarata(Español)cataracte(Français)Katarakt(Deutsch)catarata(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • actaract
  • caatract
  • cataarct
  • cataracct
  • cataractt
  • cataratc
  • catarcat
  • catarract
  • catraact
  • cattaract
  • ccataract
  • ctaaract

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

actaract2caatract2cataarct2cataracct1cataractt1cataratc2catarcat2catarract1
Edit distance from "cataract"

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 "cataract"?
"cataract" is spelled C-A-T-A-R-A-C-T. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈkætəɹækt/.
What does "cataract" mean?
As a noun, "cataract" means: A (large) waterfall, specifically one flowing over the edge of a cliff.
What words are commonly confused with "cataract"?
"cataract" is commonly confused with "cataracts". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "cataract"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "cataract" is /ˈkætəɹækt/. 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 "cataract"?
PIE word *ḱóm The noun is derived from cataracts (noun (plural only)), from Late Middle English cataract, cataracta, cateract, cateracte (“floodgate of heaven”), from Old French cataracte (modern French cataracte), and from its etymon Latin catar... 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 “cataract”

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

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