congregate

/ˈkɒŋɡɹəɡeɪt/

//ˈkɒŋɡɹəɡeɪt// verb

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

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

The verdict

“congregate” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #31,932 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#31,932
frequency rank, English
10
letters
15
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To collect into an assembly or assemblage; to bring into one place, or into a united body.

Key facts for congregate
PropertyValue
Headwordcongregate
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ˈkɒŋɡɹəɡeɪt/
Letters10
Frequency rank#31,932
Misspellings tracked15
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “congregate” 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). congregate 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 congregate is 10 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈkɒŋɡɹəɡeɪt/. Corpus data places it at rank #31,932 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 2 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 15 likely wrong-spelling variants for congregate, with forms such as "ccongregate", "cnogregate", and "cognregate". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, which typically means the spelling is too distinctive to be mistaken for another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: The adjective is first attested in 1400–1450, in Middle English, the verb c. 1513; from Middle English congregat(e) (“(of people) banded together; (of liquids) accumulated; (of muscles) contracted; (of wounds) closed up”), borrowed from Latin congregātus, p… The correct English form is congregate, spelled C-O-N-G-R-E-G-A-T-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To collect into an assembly or assemblage; to bring into one place, or into a united body.
  2. 2
    To come together; to assemble; to meet.

Etymology

The adjective is first attested in 1400–1450, in Middle English, the verb c. 1513; from Middle English congregat(e) (“(of people) banded together; (of liquids) accumulated; (of muscles) contracted; (of wounds) closed up”), borrowed from Latin congregātus, perfect passive participle of congregō (“to congregate”) (see -ate (etymology 1, 2 and 3), from con- (“with, together”) + gregō (“to collect into a flock”), from grex (“flock, herd”). See gregarious and egregious. Participial usage of the adjective up until Early Modern English.

This word in other languages

congregarse(Español)ansammeln(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ccongregate,cnogregate,cognregate,congergate,conggregate,congreagte,congregaet,congregatte,congreggate,congregtae,congrgeate,congrregate,conngregate,conrgegate,ocngregate

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of congregate - 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.

ccongregate1cnogregate2cognregate2congergate2conggregate1congreagte2congregaet2congregatte1
Edit distance from "congregate"

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 "congregate"?
"congregate" is spelled C-O-N-G-R-E-G-A-T-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈkɒŋɡɹəɡeɪt/.
What does "congregate" mean?
As a verb, "congregate" means: To collect into an assembly or assemblage; to bring into one place, or into a united body.
What are common misspellings of "congregate"?
Common misspellings include "ccongregate", "cnogregate", "cognregate", "congergate", "conggregate". The correct spelling is "congregate".
How do you pronounce "congregate"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "congregate" is /ˈkɒŋɡɹəɡeɪt/. 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 "congregate"?
The adjective is first attested in 1400–1450, in Middle English, the verb c. 1513; from Middle English congregat(e) (“(of people) banded together; (of liquids) accumulated; (of muscles) contracted; (of wounds) closed up”), borrowed from Latin cong... 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 “congregate”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is C-O-N-G-R-E-G-A-T-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈkɒŋɡɹəɡeɪt/ (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