cathode
/ˈkæθ.oʊd/
"cathode" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“cathode” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #27,767 in English word frequency and used as a noun.
- #27,767
- frequency rank, English
- 7
- letters
- 10
- tracked misspellings
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - An electrode, of a cell or other electrically polarized device, through which a positive current of electricity flows outwards (and thus, electrons flow inwards). It can have either a negative or a...
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | cathode |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Noun |
| IPA | /ˈkæθ.oʊd/ |
| Letters | 7 |
| Frequency rank | #27,767 |
| Misspellings tracked | 10 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “cathode” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for cathode is 7 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈkæθ.oʊd/. Corpus data places it at rank #27,767 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 4 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.
Our generated misspelling index lists 10 likely wrong-spelling variants for cathode, with forms such as "acthode", "cahtode", and "cathdoe". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.
Etymologically, the entry records: From Ancient Greek κατα- (kata-, “down”) and ὁδός (hodós, “journey, way”), equivalent to Ancient Greek κάθοδος (káthodos, “way down, descent”). Coined by English polymath William Whewell in 1834 for Michael Faraday, who introduced it later that year. By sur… The correct English form is cathode, spelled C-A-T-H-O-D-E.
Definition
- 1An electrode, of a cell or other electrically polarized device, through which a positive current of electricity flows outwards (and thus, electrons flow inwards). It can have either a negative or a positive voltage with respect to anode of the same polarized device (depending on whether the device is a load or a source, respectively).
- 2The electrode at which chemical reduction of cations takes place, usually resulting in the deposition of metal onto the electrode.
- 3The electrode from which electrons are emitted into a vacuum tube or gas-filled tube.
- 4That electrode of a semiconductor device which is connected to the n-type material of a p-n junction.
Etymology
From Ancient Greek κατα- (kata-, “down”) and ὁδός (hodós, “journey, way”), equivalent to Ancient Greek κάθοδος (káthodos, “way down, descent”). Coined by English polymath William Whewell in 1834 for Michael Faraday, who introduced it later that year. By surface analysis, cath- (alternative form of cata-) + -ode.
Antonyms
This word in other languages
Common misspellings
Also misspelled as: acthode,cahtode,cathdoe,cathhode,cathodde,cathoed,catohde,catthode,ccathode,ctahode
Misspelling Pattern Breakdown
How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of cathode - 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 "cathode"?
What does "cathode" mean?
What are common misspellings of "cathode"?
How do you pronounce "cathode"?
What is the origin of the word "cathode"?
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Using “cathode”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is C-A-T-H-O-D-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /ˈkæθ.oʊd/ (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.