contour

/ˈkɒntɔː(ɹ)/

//ˈkɒntɔː(ɹ)// noun

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

"contour" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“contour” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #17,806 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#17,806
frequency rank, English
7
letters
10
tracked misspellings
6
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - An outline, boundary or border, usually of curved shape.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

contour vs Conor
57% similar
contour vs Connor
57% similar
contour vs concur
71% similar

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

Key facts for contour
PropertyValue
Headwordcontour
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈkɒntɔː(ɹ)/
Letters7
Frequency rank#17,806
Misspellings tracked10
Confusable pairs6
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “contour” 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). contour 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 contour is 7 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈkɒntɔː(ɹ)/. Corpus data places it at rank #17,806 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 4 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 10 likely wrong-spelling variants for contour, with forms such as "ccontour", "cnotour", and "conntour". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 6 confusable-pair relationships, "Conor", "Connor", "concur", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from French contour, from contourner, equivalent to con- + tour. The correct English form is contour, spelled C-O-N-T-O-U-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    An outline, boundary or border, usually of curved shape.
  2. 2
    A line on a map or chart delineating those points which have the same altitude or other plotted quantity: a contour line or isopleth; (metonymically) the landform or its surface.
  3. 3
    a speech sound which behaves as a single segment, but which makes an internal transition from one quality, place, or manner to another.
  4. 4
    A general description giving the most important points.

Etymology

Borrowed from French contour, from contourner, equivalent to con- + tour.

This word in other languages

contorno(Español)contour(Français)Kontur(Deutsch)contorno(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ccontour,cnotour,conntour,conotur,contoru,contourr,conttour,contuor,cotnour,ocntour

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of contour - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

ccontour1cnotour2conntour1conotur2contoru2contourr1conttour1contuor2
Edit distance from "contour"

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 "contour"?
"contour" is spelled C-O-N-T-O-U-R. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈkɒntɔː(ɹ)/.
What does "contour" mean?
As a noun, "contour" means: An outline, boundary or border, usually of curved shape.
What words are commonly confused with "contour"?
"contour" is commonly confused with "Conor", "Connor", "concur". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "contour"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "contour" is /ˈkɒntɔː(ɹ)/. 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 "contour"?
Borrowed from French contour, from contourner, equivalent to con- + tour. 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 “contour”

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

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