constant

/ˈkɒnstənt/

//ˈkɒnstənt// adj

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

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

The verdict

“constant” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #2,781 in English word frequency and used as an adjective.

#2,781
frequency rank, English
8
letters
13
tracked misspellings
10
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Unchanged through time or space; permanent.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

constant vs content
75% similar
constant vs contact
75% similar
constant vs constantly
80% similar

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

Key facts for constant
PropertyValue
Headwordconstant
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˈkɒnstənt/
Letters8
Frequency rank#2,781
Misspellings tracked13
Confusable pairs10
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “constant” 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). constant 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 constant is 8 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈkɒnstənt/. Corpus data places it at rank #2,781 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 6 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 13 likely wrong-spelling variants for constant, with forms such as "cconstant", "cnostant", and "connstant". 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, "content", "contact", "constantly", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English constant, from Old French constant, from Latin constantem, accusative of constans, from cōnstāre (“to stand firm”). Displaced native Old English singal. The correct English form is constant, spelled C-O-N-S-T-A-N-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    Unchanged through time or space; permanent.
  2. 2
    Consistently recurring over time; persistent.
  3. 3
    Steady in purpose, action, feeling, etc.
  4. 4
    Firm; solid; not fluid.
  5. 5
    Consistent; logical.
  6. 6
    Bounded above by a constant.

Etymology

From Middle English constant, from Old French constant, from Latin constantem, accusative of constans, from cōnstāre (“to stand firm”). Displaced native Old English singal.

Synonyms

nonchangingunalteringunvaryingchangeless

This word in other languages

constante(Español)constant(Français)beständig(Deutsch)constante(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: cconstant,cnostant,connstant,consatnt,consstant,constannt,constantt,constatn,constnat,consttant,contsant,cosntant,ocnstant

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

cconstant1cnostant2connstant1consatnt2consstant1constannt1constantt1constatn2
Edit distance from "constant"

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 "constant"?
"constant" is spelled C-O-N-S-T-A-N-T. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈkɒnstənt/.
What does "constant" mean?
As an adjective, "constant" means: Unchanged through time or space; permanent.
What words are commonly confused with "constant"?
"constant" is commonly confused with "content", "contact", "constantly". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "constant"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "constant" is /ˈkɒnstənt/. 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 "constant"?
From Middle English constant, from Old French constant, from Latin constantem, accusative of constans, from cōnstāre (“to stand firm”). Displaced native Old English singal. 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 “constant”

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

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