clasp

/klæsp/

//klæsp// noun

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

"clasp" is a 5-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“clasp” has 7 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #25,321. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#25,321
frequency rank, English
5,599
“C” headwords
7
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - A device with interlocking parts used for fastening things together, such as a fastener or a holder.

Corpus desk

Index EN-clasp · clasp · English

clasp · rank #25,321 · 7 variants · 20 confusables

  • FREQ-MID #25,321
  • LEN-MID 5 letters
  • VOW-1 1 vowel
  • CONFUS-HIGH 20 pairs
  • VAR-MID 7 variants
  • BOOK-DENSE 5,599
  • PHOTO-FINISH clancy

Nearest frequency peer: clancy (-1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Frequency neighbourhood for “clasp”

Lower corpus rank = more everyday usage (inverted bar length for readability)

corpus weight

What this shows Bars show where “clasp” sits against the nearest ranked English headwords in the FrequencyWords band, not a reprint of letter-browse containment.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

clasp vs CSP
0% similar
clasp vs CLP
0% similar
clasp vs crap
60% similar

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

Key facts for clasp
PropertyValue
Headwordclasp
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/klæsp/
Letters5
Frequency rank#25,321
Misspellings tracked7
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “clasp” sits in English frequency

This scale runs from the tiny cluster of words that carry ordinary speech (left) to the long tail of words almost nobody reaches for (right).clasplands here:

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

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Same rarity band neighbours include “clancy” (#25,320), “clit” (#25,322), “cheques” (#25,319). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 7 spelling variants around clasp (IPA /klæsp/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #25,321 among 5,599 “C” headwords. Wiktionary lists 3 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 7 likely wrong-spelling variants for clasp, with forms such as "calsp", "cclasp", and "claspp". 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 20 confusable-pair relationships, "CSP", "CLP", "crap", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: Noun dated ca. 1300 and verb dated ca. 1400; from Middle English claspe (“metal catch or hook used to hold things together”), possible metathesis of clapse, which comes from or related to Old English clyppan (“clasp”) (also see clip (verb)). Related to Engl… The correct English form is clasp, spelled C-L-A-S-P.

Definition

  1. 1
    A device with interlocking parts used for fastening things together, such as a fastener or a holder.
  2. 2
    A bar or insignia on a medal ribbon, to either indicate an additional award of the medal, or the action or service for which it was awarded.
  3. 3
    An embrace, a grasp, or handshake.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how clasp appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. I always have a hard time working the clasp on this necklace!
  2. He took her hand in a firm clasp.

Etymology

Noun dated ca. 1300 and verb dated ca. 1400; from Middle English claspe (“metal catch or hook used to hold things together”), possible metathesis of clapse, which comes from or related to Old English clyppan (“clasp”) (also see clip (verb)). Related to English enclasp (“embrace, hold tightly in one's arms”). Compare hasp, of very similar meaning but older known provenance.

This word in other languages

broche(Español)fermoir(Français)Spange(Deutsch)gancho(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • calsp
  • cclasp
  • claspp
  • classp
  • cllasp
  • clsap
  • lcasp

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of clasp - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

calsp2cclasp1claspp1classp1cllasp1clsap2lcasp2
Edit distance from "clasp"

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 "clasp"?
"clasp" is spelled C-L-A-S-P. The IPA pronunciation is /klæsp/.
What does "clasp" mean?
As a noun, "clasp" means: A device with interlocking parts used for fastening things together, such as a fastener or a holder.
What words are commonly confused with "clasp"?
"clasp" is commonly confused with "CSP", "CLP", "crap". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "clasp"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "clasp" is /klæsp/. 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 "clasp"?
Noun dated ca. 1300 and verb dated ca. 1400; from Middle English claspe (“metal catch or hook used to hold things together”), possible metathesis of clapse, which comes from or related to Old English clyppan (“clasp”) (also see clip (verb)). Relat... 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.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "clasp", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 5 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

crypt#25,342deems#25,348Aztec#25,287doves#25,361

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (7 here; floor ≥5).

burrow7 variantsedict7 variantsAnand7 variantsepoxy7 variants

What to do next

You've looked up "clasp". Here's where to go from here.

  • "clasp" maps to 20 confusable pairs in this vintage; the highest-scored is "CSP". View pair
  • 7 edit-distance misspelling variants are generated for spell-check research on this headword. See variants
  • Usage frequency rank #25,321 among English headwords in this corpus. Corpus statistics
  • Browse more English words in the "C" letter cohort. C–Z browse
  • PlainSpell rotates a curated Word of the Day from the English corpus, a passive way to discover vocabulary. Word of the Day

PlainSpell is a reference corpus, not spelling advice. Verify unusual forms in context.

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