clodhopper

/ˈklɑdˌhɑpɚ/

//ˈklɑdˌhɑpɚ// noun

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

The verdict

“clodhopper” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a noun - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
10
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A strong shoe for heavy-duty use, a boot.

Key facts for clodhopper
PropertyValue
Headwordclodhopper
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈklɑdˌhɑpɚ/
Letters10
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “clodhopper” sits in English frequency

clodhopper falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for clodhopper is 10 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈklɑdˌhɑpɚ/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 6 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Zero misspellings are on record for clodhopper in our index, which points to an orthography that plays by predictable English rules. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, since nothing in our dataset looks or sounds close enough to cause mix-ups.

Etymologically, the entry records: Compound of clod + hopper (agentive form of the verb hop). Perhaps affected by analogy with grasshopper. Attested in the sense of "peasant" since the seventeenth century; the extended sense of "boot" or "shoe" dates from the nineteenth century. The correct English form is clodhopper, spelled C-L-O-D-H-O-P-P-E-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    A strong shoe for heavy-duty use, a boot.
  2. 2
    Any shoe construed (within a particular context) as ungainly.
  3. 3
    United States Navy ankle length work shoes, distinct from dress shoes or combat boots.
  4. 4
    A peasant or yokel.
  5. 5
    A clumsy or foolish person.
  6. 6
    Wheatear: any of various passerine birds.

Etymology

Compound of clod + hopper (agentive form of the verb hop). Perhaps affected by analogy with grasshopper. Attested in the sense of "peasant" since the seventeenth century; the extended sense of "boot" or "shoe" dates from the nineteenth century.

Synonyms

clodknocker

This word in other languages

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "clodhopper"?
"clodhopper" is spelled C-L-O-D-H-O-P-P-E-R. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈklɑdˌhɑpɚ/.
What does "clodhopper" mean?
As a noun, "clodhopper" means: A strong shoe for heavy-duty use, a boot.
How do you pronounce "clodhopper"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "clodhopper" is /ˈklɑdˌhɑpɚ/. 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 "clodhopper"?
Compound of clod + hopper (agentive form of the verb hop). Perhaps affected by analogy with grasshopper. Attested in the sense of "peasant" since the seventeenth century; the extended sense of "boot" or "shoe" dates from the nineteenth century. 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 “clodhopper”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is C-L-O-D-H-O-P-P-E-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈklɑdˌhɑpɚ/ (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
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