chloroform

/ˈklɒɹə(ʊ)ˌfɔː(ɹ)m/

//ˈklɒɹə(ʊ)ˌfɔː(ɹ)m// noun

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

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

The verdict

“chloroform” has 16 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #37,379. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#37,379
frequency rank, English
43,570
“C” headwords
16
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A halogenated hydrocarbon, trichloromethane, CHCl₃; it is a volatile, sweet-smelling liquid, used extensively as a solvent and formerly as an anesthetic.

Key facts for chloroform
PropertyValue
Headwordchloroform
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈklɒɹə(ʊ)ˌfɔː(ɹ)m/
Letters10
Frequency rank#37,379
Misspellings tracked16
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “chloroform” 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). chloroform lands here:

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

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

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 16 spelling variants around chloroform (IPA /ˈklɒɹə(ʊ)ˌfɔː(ɹ)m/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #37,379 among 43,570 “C” headwords. Dominant gloss: "A halogenated hydrocarbon, trichloromethane, CHCl₃; it is a volatile, sweet-smelling liquid, used extensively as a solvent and formerly as an anesthetic.".

Our generated misspelling index lists 16 likely wrong-spelling variants for chloroform, with forms such as "cchloroform", "chhloroform", and "chlloroform". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It is not paired with a close-neighbour confusable in our dataset, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from French chloroforme, portmanteau of terchloride (tertiary chloride, trichloride) and formyle (CH, an obsolete radical of formic acid) by Jean-Baptiste Dumas, from 1834. By surface analysis, chloro- + -form. The correct English form is chloroform, spelled C-H-L-O-R-O-F-O-R-M.

Definition

  1. 1
    A halogenated hydrocarbon, trichloromethane, CHCl₃; it is a volatile, sweet-smelling liquid, used extensively as a solvent and formerly as an anesthetic.

Etymology

Borrowed from French chloroforme, portmanteau of terchloride (tertiary chloride, trichloride) and formyle (CH, an obsolete radical of formic acid) by Jean-Baptiste Dumas, from 1834. By surface analysis, chloro- + -form.

This word in other languages

cloroformo(Español)chloroforme(Français)Chloroform(Deutsch)clorofórmio(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • cchloroform
  • chhloroform
  • chlloroform
  • chloorform
  • chlorfoorm
  • chlorofform
  • chlorofomr
  • chloroformm
  • chloroforrm
  • chlorofrom
  • chloroofrm
  • chlorroform
  • chlrooform
  • cholroform
  • clhoroform
  • hcloroform

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of chloroform - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

cchloroform1chhloroform1chlloroform1chloorform2chlorfoorm2chlorofform1chlorofomr2chloroformm1
Edit distance from "chloroform"

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 "chloroform"?
"chloroform" is spelled C-H-L-O-R-O-F-O-R-M. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈklɒɹə(ʊ)ˌfɔː(ɹ)m/.
What does "chloroform" mean?
As a noun, "chloroform" means: A halogenated hydrocarbon, trichloromethane, CHCl₃; it is a volatile, sweet-smelling liquid, used extensively as a solvent and formerly as an anesthetic.
What are common misspellings of "chloroform"?
Common misspellings include "cchloroform", "chhloroform", "chlloroform", "chloorform", "chlorfoorm". The correct spelling is "chloroform".
How do you pronounce "chloroform"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "chloroform" is /ˈklɒɹə(ʊ)ˌfɔː(ɹ)m/. 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 "chloroform"?
Borrowed from French chloroforme, portmanteau of terchloride (tertiary chloride, trichloride) and formyle (CH, an obsolete radical of formic acid) by Jean-Baptiste Dumas, from 1834. By surface analysis, chloro- + -form. 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 “chloroform”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is C-H-L-O-R-O-F-O-R-M - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈklɒɹə(ʊ)ˌfɔː(ɹ)m/ (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

Same frequency band

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