comp

/kɒmp/

//kɒmp// adj

"comp" is a 4-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“comp” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #8,911 in English word frequency and used as an adjective.

#8,911
frequency rank, English
4
letters
6
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Clipping of complimentary.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

comp vs cp
50% similar
comp vs cup
50% similar
comp vs cop
75% similar

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

Key facts for comp
PropertyValue
Headwordcomp
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/kɒmp/
Letters4
Frequency rank#8,911
Misspellings tracked6
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “comp” 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). comp lands here:

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

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

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for comp is 4 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /kɒmp/. Corpus data places it at rank #8,911 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 6 likely wrong-spelling variants for comp, with forms such as "ccomp", "cmop", and "commp". 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, "cp", "cup", "cop", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Wiktionary doesn't record an etymology for this headword, so its spelling is best explained by sound-to-letter mapping rather than etymology. The correct English form is comp, spelled C-O-M-P.

Definition

  1. 1
    Clipping of complimentary.
  2. 2
    Clipping of comparative.
  3. 3
    Clipping of compensatory or compensating.

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ccomp,cmop,commp,compp,copm,ocmp

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of comp - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

ccomp1cmop2commp1compp1copm2ocmp2
Edit distance from "comp"

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 "comp"?
"comp" is spelled C-O-M-P. The IPA pronunciation is /kɒmp/.
What does "comp" mean?
As an adjective, "comp" means: Clipping of complimentary.
What words are commonly confused with "comp"?
"comp" is commonly confused with "cp", "cup", "cop". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "comp"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "comp" is /kɒmp/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "comp" come from?
"comp" is a English word. PlainSpell covers definitions, pronunciations, and spelling data across English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German.
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 “comp”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is C-O-M-P - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /kɒmp/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “cp” - see the side-by-side comparison. comp vs cp
  • 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