catechism
/ˈkætɪˌkɪzəm/
"catechism" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“catechism” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #31,904 in English word frequency and used as a noun.
- #31,904
- frequency rank, English
- 9
- letters
- 14
- tracked misspellings
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A book, in question and answer form, summarizing the basic principles of Christianity.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | catechism |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Noun |
| IPA | /ˈkætɪˌkɪzəm/ |
| Letters | 9 |
| Frequency rank | #31,904 |
| Misspellings tracked | 14 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “catechism” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for catechism is 9 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈkætɪˌkɪzəm/. Corpus data places it at rank #31,904 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.
Our generated misspelling index lists 14 likely wrong-spelling variants for catechism, with forms such as "actechism", "caetchism", and "catcehism". 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. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.
Etymologically, the entry records: From Late Latin catechismus, from Ancient Greek *κατηχισμός (*katēkhismós), from κατηχίζω (katēkhízō, “to catechize”), a later extended form of κατηχέω (katēkhéō, “to catechize, instruct, teach by word of mouth”), from κατά (katá, “down”) + ἠχέω (ēkhéō, “to… The correct English form is catechism, spelled C-A-T-E-C-H-I-S-M.
Definition
- 1A book, in question and answer form, summarizing the basic principles of Christianity.
- 2A basic manual in some subject.
- 3A set of questions designed to determine knowledge.
Etymology
From Late Latin catechismus, from Ancient Greek *κατηχισμός (*katēkhismós), from κατηχίζω (katēkhízō, “to catechize”), a later extended form of κατηχέω (katēkhéō, “to catechize, instruct, teach by word of mouth”), from κατά (katá, “down”) + ἠχέω (ēkhéō, “to sound, resound”).
This word in other languages
Common misspellings
Also misspelled as: actechism,caetchism,catcehism,catecchism,catechhism,catechims,catechismm,catechissm,catechsim,catecihsm,catehcism,cattechism,ccatechism,ctaechism
Misspelling Pattern Breakdown
How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of catechism - 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.
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 "catechism"?
What does "catechism" mean?
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How do you pronounce "catechism"?
What is the origin of the word "catechism"?
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Using “catechism”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is C-A-T-E-C-H-I-S-M - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /ˈkætɪˌkɪzəm/ (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
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.