clockwork

/ˈklɑkwɝk/

//ˈklɑkwɝk// noun

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

"clockwork" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“clockwork” has 15 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #22,326. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#22,326
frequency rank, English
5,599
“C” headwords
15
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - A mechanism powered by a coiled spring and regulated by some form of escapement; the power is transmitted through toothed gearwheels and used to drive a mechanical clock, toy, or other device.

Corpus desk

Index EN-clockwork · clockwork · English

clockwork · rank #22,326 · 15 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-MID #22,326
  • LEN-LONG 9 letters
  • VOW-2 2 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-HIGH 15 variants
  • BOOK-DENSE 5,599
  • PHOTO-FINISH clockwise

Nearest frequency peer: clockwise (-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.

Rank peers near misspelling magnet “clockwork”

Same rarity band: useful when a typo lands on a peer headword

corpus weight

What this shows “clockwork” sits among these FrequencyWords peers; misspelling depth is tracked separately in the edit-distance chart.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026
Key facts for clockwork
PropertyValue
Headwordclockwork
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈklɑkwɝk/
Letters9
Frequency rank#22,326
Misspellings tracked15
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “clockwork”

Word frequency stretches from the small set of words we reach for constantly (left) out to the long tail barely used once in a while (right).clockworklands here:

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

Ticks step logarithmically, so each one marks a roughly tenfold drop in how often the word turns up. Same rarity band neighbours include “clockwise” (#22,325), “climatic” (#22,324), “Como” (#22,328). Among 5,599 “C” headwords, “clockwork” is #22,326. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 15 spelling variants around clockwork (IPA /ˈklɑkwɝk/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #22,326 among 5,599 “C” headwords. Wiktionary lists 2 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 15 likely wrong-spelling variants for clockwork, with forms such as "cclockwork", "clcokwork", and "cllockwork". 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. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

Etymologically, the entry records: From clock + -work. The correct English form is clockwork, spelled C-L-O-C-K-W-O-R-K.

Definition

  1. 1
    A mechanism powered by a coiled spring and regulated by some form of escapement; the power is transmitted through toothed gearwheels and used to drive a mechanical clock, toy, or other device.
  2. 2
    The action of behaving mechanically in the manner of a clock.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

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

  1. Many contrivances for making model horses move up and down as on roundabouts were patented in 1887, and toy horses pulling toy carts were made to imitate galloping by means of clockwork.
  2. The mind feeds upon the body: pale sickness, and early decrepitude, overmaster even its spiritual essence. Too late it discovers that this earth is its prison, and not its home: the heart beats, and its pulses are the clockwork of wretchedness:...

Etymology

From clock + -work.

This word in other languages

cuerda(Español)rouage(Français)Uhrwerk(Deutsch)corda(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • cclockwork
  • clcokwork
  • cllockwork
  • clocckwork
  • clockkwork
  • clockowrk
  • clockwokr
  • clockworkk
  • clockworrk
  • clockwrok
  • clockwwork
  • clocwkork
  • clokcwork
  • colckwork
  • lcockwork

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

cclockwork1clcokwork2cllockwork1clocckwork1clockkwork1clockowrk2clockwokr2clockworkk1
Edit distance from "clockwork"

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 "clockwork"?
"clockwork" is spelled C-L-O-C-K-W-O-R-K. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈklɑkwɝk/.
What does "clockwork" mean?
As a noun, "clockwork" means: A mechanism powered by a coiled spring and regulated by some form of escapement; the power is transmitted through toothed gearwheels and used to drive a mechanical clock, toy, or other device.
What are common misspellings of "clockwork"?
Common misspellings include "cclockwork", "clcokwork", "cllockwork", "clocckwork", "clockkwork". The correct spelling is "clockwork".
How do you pronounce "clockwork"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "clockwork" is /ˈklɑkwɝk/. 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 "clockwork"?
From clock + -work. 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 "clockwork", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 9 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

clockwise#22,325correlate#22,332courteous#22,334criticise#22,337

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (15 here; floor ≥5).

blatantly15 variantsdownwards15 variantswhistling15 variantsunbalanced15 variants

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list