chatterbox

/ˈtʃæ.tə(ɹ)ˌbɒks/

//ˈtʃæ.tə(ɹ)ˌbɒks// noun

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

"chatterbox" is a 10-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“chatterbox” is an uncommon English word, ranked #75,718 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#75,718
frequency rank, English
10
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - One who chats or talks to excess.

Key facts for chatterbox
PropertyValue
Headwordchatterbox
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈtʃæ.tə(ɹ)ˌbɒks/
Letters10
Frequency rank#75,718
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “chatterbox” 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). chatterbox 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 chatterbox is 10 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈtʃæ.tə(ɹ)ˌbɒks/. Corpus data places it at rank #75,718 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.

We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for chatterbox, a straightforward case of a spelling with little room for common typos. No close-neighbour confusable shows up for this headword in our dataset, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

Etymologically, the entry records: From chatter + box. The correct English form is chatterbox, spelled C-H-A-T-T-E-R-B-O-X.

Definition

  1. 1
    One who chats or talks to excess.
  2. 2
    Synonym of cootie catcher (“children's fortune-telling device”).
  3. 3
    Synonym of chatterbot.
  4. 4
    The orchid Epipactis gigantea.

Etymology

From chatter + box.

Synonyms

babblerjabbererchattereryakkerairbagbabblemouthbag of windblabblabbererblathererblabbermouthblatherskitebloviatorchatterbagchatter-basketchatterboxChatty CathychewetgabblergasbagjanglerMagmotormouthpattererpraterprattlerrattletongue-padtwaddlerwindbagyapper

This word in other languages

loro(Español)moulin à paroles(Français)Dampfplauderer(Deutsch)tagarela(Português)

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 "chatterbox"?
"chatterbox" is spelled C-H-A-T-T-E-R-B-O-X. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈtʃæ.tə(ɹ)ˌbɒks/.
What does "chatterbox" mean?
As a noun, "chatterbox" means: One who chats or talks to excess.
How do you pronounce "chatterbox"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "chatterbox" is /ˈtʃæ.tə(ɹ)ˌbɒks/. 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 "chatterbox"?
From chatter + box. 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 “chatterbox”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is C-H-A-T-T-E-R-B-O-X - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈtʃæ.tə(ɹ)ˌbɒks/ (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.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list