challenge

/ˈt͡ʃæl.ɪnd͡ʒ/

//ˈt͡ʃæl.ɪnd͡ʒ// noun

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

"challenge" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“challenge” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #1,389 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#1,389
frequency rank, English
9
letters
12
tracked misspellings
4
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A confrontation; a dare.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

challenge vs Charlene
67% similar
challenge vs challenges
90% similar
challenge vs challenged
90% similar

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

Key facts for challenge
PropertyValue
Headwordchallenge
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈt͡ʃæl.ɪnd͡ʒ/
Letters9
Frequency rank#1,389
Misspellings tracked12
Confusable pairs4
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “challenge” 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). challenge 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 challenge is 9 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈt͡ʃæl.ɪnd͡ʒ/. Corpus data places it at rank #1,389 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 12 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 12 likely wrong-spelling variants for challenge, with forms such as "cahllenge", "cchallenge", and "chalelnge". 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. It also participates in 4 confusable-pair relationships, "Charlene", "challenges", "challenged", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English chalenge, variant with palatalization of Middle English kalange (“an accusation, claim”), from Old French chalenge, chalonge, palatalized Central French variants of Old Northern French calenge, calonge (see Continental Norman calengier),… The correct English form is challenge, spelled C-H-A-L-L-E-N-G-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    A confrontation; a dare.
  2. 2
    A confrontation; a dare.
  3. 3
    A confrontation; a dare.
  4. 4
    A confrontation; a dare.
  5. 5
    A confrontation; a dare.
  6. 6
    A confrontation; a dare.
  7. 7
    A difficult task, especially one that the person making the attempt finds more enjoyable because of that difficulty.
  8. 8
    A procedure or action.
  9. 9
    A procedure or action.
  10. 10
    A procedure or action.
  11. 11
    A procedure or action.
  12. 12
    The opening and crying of hounds upon first finding the scent of their game.

Etymology

From Middle English chalenge, variant with palatalization of Middle English kalange (“an accusation, claim”), from Old French chalenge, chalonge, palatalized Central French variants of Old Northern French calenge, calonge (see Continental Norman calengier), from Latin calumnia (“a false accusation, calumny”). Cognate with Old English hōl (“calumny”). Doublet of calumny.

This word in other languages

desafío(Español)défi(Français)Herausforderung(Deutsch)desafio(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: cahllenge,cchallenge,chalelnge,chalenge,challegne,challeneg,challengge,challennge,challnege,chhallenge,chlalenge,hcallenge

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

cahllenge2cchallenge1chalelnge2chalenge1challegne2challeneg2challengge1challennge1
Edit distance from "challenge"

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 "challenge"?
"challenge" is spelled C-H-A-L-L-E-N-G-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈt͡ʃæl.ɪnd͡ʒ/.
What does "challenge" mean?
As a noun, "challenge" means: A confrontation; a dare.
What words are commonly confused with "challenge"?
"challenge" is commonly confused with "Charlene", "challenges", "challenged". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "challenge"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "challenge" is /ˈt͡ʃæl.ɪnd͡ʒ/. 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 "challenge"?
From Middle English chalenge, variant with palatalization of Middle English kalange (“an accusation, claim”), from Old French chalenge, chalonge, palatalized Central French variants of Old Northern French calenge, calonge (see Continental Norman c... 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 “challenge”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is C-H-A-L-L-E-N-G-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈt͡ʃæl.ɪnd͡ʒ/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “Charlene” - see the side-by-side comparison. challenge vs Charlene
  • 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