computer
/kəmˈpjuːtə/
"computer" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“computer” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #1,136 in English word frequency and used as a noun.
- #1,136
- frequency rank, English
- 8
- letters
- 12
- tracked misspellings
- 10
- confusable pairs
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A programmable electronic device that performs mathematical calculations and logical operations, especially one that can process, store and retrieve large amounts of data very quickly; now especial...
Visual similarity to commonly confused words
How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).
Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | computer |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Noun |
| IPA | /kəmˈpjuːtə/ |
| Letters | 8 |
| Frequency rank | #1,136 |
| Misspellings tracked | 12 |
| Confusable pairs | 10 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “computer” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for computer is 8 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /kəmˈpjuːtə/. Corpus data places it at rank #1,136 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 12 likely wrong-spelling variants for computer, with forms such as "ccomputer", "cmoputer", and "commputer". 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 10 confusable-pair relationships, "computers", "compete", "commute", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.
Etymologically, the entry records: From compute + -er. Doublet of cantore, counter, and kontor. First sense first appears c. 1613 in the works of the poet Richard Brathwait. Second sense first appears c. 1897 in the magazine Engineering. The correct English form is computer, spelled C-O-M-P-U-T-E-R.
Definition
- 1A programmable electronic device that performs mathematical calculations and logical operations, especially one that can process, store and retrieve large amounts of data very quickly; now especially, a small one for personal or home use employed for manipulating text or graphics, accessing the Internet, or playing games or media.
- 2A person employed to perform computations; one who computes.
- 3A person employed to perform computations; one who computes.
Etymology
From compute + -er. Doublet of cantore, counter, and kontor. First sense first appears c. 1613 in the works of the poet Richard Brathwait. Second sense first appears c. 1897 in the magazine Engineering.
Synonyms
This word in other languages
Common misspellings
Also misspelled as: ccomputer,cmoputer,commputer,compputer,comptuer,compuetr,computerr,computre,computter,comupter,copmuter,ocmputer
Misspelling Pattern Breakdown
How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of computer - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.
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
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Using “computer”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is C-O-M-P-U-T-E-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /kəmˈpjuːtə/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
- Don't mix it up with “computers” - see the side-by-side comparison. computer vs computers
- 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.