constrict

/kənˈstɹɪkt/

//kənˈstɹɪkt// verb

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

"constrict" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“constrict” is uncommon English (frequency #64,282 among 5,599 “C” headwords), classed as a verb. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#64,282
frequency rank, English
5,599
“C” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - To narrow, especially by application of pressure.

Corpus desk

Index EN-constrict · constrict · English

constrict · rank #64,282 · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-RARE #64,282
  • LEN-LONG 9 letters
  • VOW-2 2 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-DENSE 5,599
  • PHOTO-FINISH constitutiona…

Nearest frequency peer: constitutionalism (-1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Long-tail ranks near “constrict”

Sparse band: bars invert rank so rarer forms read shorter

corpus weight

What this shows Long-tail view: where “constrict” sits against similarly uncommon English ranks.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026
Key facts for constrict
PropertyValue
Headwordconstrict
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/kənˈstɹɪkt/
Letters9
Frequency rank#64,282
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “constrict” in English

This scale runs from the tiny cluster of words that carry ordinary speech (left) to the long tail of words almost nobody reaches for (right).constrictfalls in this rarity band:

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

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Rare peers in the same band: “constitutionalism” (#64,281), “consistory” (#64,280), “CONUS” (#64,284). Among 5,599 “C” headwords, “constrict” is #64,282. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

constrict is uncommon English at frequency #64,282 among 5,599 “C” headwords, classed as averb, transcribed /kənˈstɹɪkt/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 3 senses are on record.

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

  1. 1
    To narrow, especially by application of pressure.
  2. 2
    To coil around (prey) in order to asphyxiate it. (of a snake)
  3. 3
    To limit or restrict.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how constrict appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. constrict the airway
  2. constrict blood vessels

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

estrechar(Español)einengen(Deutsch)

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 "constrict"?
"constrict" is spelled C-O-N-S-T-R-I-C-T. The IPA pronunciation is /kənˈstɹɪkt/.
What does "constrict" mean?
As a verb, "constrict" means: To narrow, especially by application of pressure.
How do you pronounce "constrict"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "constrict" is /kənˈstɹɪkt/. 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 "constrict"?
Borrowed from Latin cōnstrictus (“compressed, contracted”), past participle of cōnstringō (“to draw or bind together; to compress”). Doublet of constrain. 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.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "constrict", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 9 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

Comintern#64,277costuming#64,289coworking#64,291credulity#64,292

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list