constrict
/kənˈstɹɪkt/
"constrict" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“constrict” is an uncommon English word, ranked #64,282 in English word frequency and used as a verb.
- #64,282
- frequency rank, English
- 9
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To narrow, especially by application of pressure.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | constrict |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Verb |
| IPA | /kənˈstɹɪkt/ |
| Letters | 9 |
| Frequency rank | #64,282 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “constrict” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for constrict is 9 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /kənˈstɹɪkt/. Corpus data places it at rank #64,282 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.
constrict has no tracked misspelling variants, a straightforward case of a spelling with little room for common typos. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.
Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from Latin cōnstrictus (“compressed, contracted”), past participle of cōnstringō (“to draw or bind together; to compress”). Doublet of constrain. The correct English form is constrict, spelled C-O-N-S-T-R-I-C-T.
Definition
- 1To narrow, especially by application of pressure.
- 2To coil around (prey) in order to asphyxiate it. (of a snake)
- 3To limit or restrict.
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin cōnstrictus (“compressed, contracted”), past participle of cōnstringō (“to draw or bind together; to compress”). Doublet of constrain.
This word in other languages
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 “constrict”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is C-O-N-S-T-R-I-C-T - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /kənˈstɹɪkt/ (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.