checkbox

/ˈtʃɛkbɒks/

//ˈtʃɛkbɒks// noun

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

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

The verdict

“checkbox” is uncommon English (frequency #59,951 among 43,570 “C” headwords), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#59,951
frequency rank, English
43,570
“C” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A space on a paper form that can be optionally filled with a check mark.

Key facts for checkbox
PropertyValue
Headwordcheckbox
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈtʃɛkbɒks/
Letters8
Frequency rank#59,951
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “checkbox” 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). checkbox lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

checkbox is uncommon English at frequency #59,951 among 43,570 “C” headwords, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈtʃɛkbɒks/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 2 senses are on record.

We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for checkbox, a sign its spelling follows regular English conventions. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, since nothing in our dataset looks or sounds close enough to cause mix-ups.

Etymologically, the entry records: From check + box. The correct English form is checkbox, spelled C-H-E-C-K-B-O-X.

Definition

  1. 1
    A space on a paper form that can be optionally filled with a check mark.
  2. 2
    An on-screen box that can be optionally filled with a check mark, to enable or disable a setting.

Etymology

From check + box.

This word in other languages

case à cocher(Français)Kästchen(Deutsch)

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 "checkbox"?
"checkbox" is spelled C-H-E-C-K-B-O-X. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈtʃɛkbɒks/.
What does "checkbox" mean?
As a noun, "checkbox" means: A space on a paper form that can be optionally filled with a check mark.
How do you pronounce "checkbox"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "checkbox" is /ˈtʃɛkbɒks/. 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 "checkbox"?
From check + 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 “checkbox”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is C-H-E-C-K-B-O-X - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈtʃɛkbɒks/ (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

Other uncommon English words near this rank

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