codeword

/ˈkoʊdˌwɝd/

//ˈkoʊdˌwɝd// noun

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

"codeword" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“codeword” is uncommon English (frequency #68,105 among 43,570 “C” headwords), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#68,105
frequency rank, English
43,570
“C” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A string representing an encoded piece of text.

Key facts for codeword
PropertyValue
Headwordcodeword
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈkoʊdˌwɝd/
Letters8
Frequency rank#68,105
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “codeword” 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). codeword lands here:

#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

codeword is uncommon English at frequency #68,105 among 43,570 “C” headwords, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈkoʊdˌwɝd/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 3 senses are on record.

No misspelling variants are generated for codeword in our index, a straightforward case of a spelling with little room for common typos. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

Etymologically, the entry records: From code + word. The correct English form is codeword, spelled C-O-D-E-W-O-R-D.

Definition

  1. 1
    A string representing an encoded piece of text.
  2. 2
    A word or phrase (or by extension a concept) used to make a (concealed) reference to another word or concept.
  3. 3
    A type of crossword puzzle where the letters of the alphabet are represented by numbers and the solver must identify them by their position and frequency.

Etymology

From code + word.

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 "codeword"?
"codeword" is spelled C-O-D-E-W-O-R-D. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈkoʊdˌwɝd/.
What does "codeword" mean?
As a noun, "codeword" means: A string representing an encoded piece of text.
How do you pronounce "codeword"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "codeword" is /ˈkoʊdˌwɝd/. 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 "codeword"?
From code + word. 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 “codeword”

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

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

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list