chicane

Name: chicane, English Word Data
Creator: Wiktionary
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

/ʃɪˈkeɪn/

//ʃɪˈkeɪn// noun

By PlainSpell · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) · analyzed May 6, 2026

The verdict

“chicane” is uncommon English (frequency #60,711 among 43,570 “C” headwords), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#60,711
frequency rank, English: 43,570
“C” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A quibble, a pedantic or dishonest objection; an act of deception.

Key facts for chicane
Property	Value
Headword	chicane
Language	English
Part of speech	Noun
IPA	/ʃɪˈkeɪn/
Letters	7
Frequency rank	#60,711
Misspellings tracked	0
Confusable pairs	0
Source	Wiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “chicane” 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). chicane lands here:

#60,711

#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

chicane is uncommon English at frequency #60,711 among 43,570 “C” headwords, classed as anoun, transcribed /ʃɪˈkeɪn/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 5 senses are on record.

chicane has no tracked misspelling variants, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from French chicane. The correct English form is chicane, spelled C-H-I-C-A-N-E.

Definition

1
A quibble, a pedantic or dishonest objection; an act of deception.
2
The use of dishonest means or subterfuge to achieve one's (especially political) goals; chicanery, trickery.
3
The holding of a hand without trumps, or the hand itself.
4
A sharp double bend on a racecourse, designed to prevent unsafe speeds; an obstacle creating a curve.
5
A raised area or other obstacle around which vehicles must drive, especially designed to reduce speed.

Etymology

Borrowed from French chicane.

This word in other languages

Schikane(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 "chicane"?

"chicane" is spelled C-H-I-C-A-N-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ʃɪˈkeɪn/.

What does "chicane" mean?

As a noun, "chicane" means: A quibble, a pedantic or dishonest objection; an act of deception.

How do you pronounce "chicane"?

The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "chicane" is /ʃɪˈkeɪn/. 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 "chicane"?

Borrowed from French chicane. 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 “chicane”

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

The one correct English spelling is C-H-I-C-A-N-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
Say it as /ʃɪˈkeɪn/ (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.