corset

/ˈkɔː(ɹ).sɪt/

//ˈkɔː(ɹ).sɪt// noun

"corset" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“corset” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #27,790 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#27,790
frequency rank, English
6
letters
9
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A woman's foundation garment, reinforced with stays, that supports the waistline, hips and bust.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

corset vs cost
67% similar
corset vs curse
67% similar
corset vs covet
67% similar

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

Key facts for corset
PropertyValue
Headwordcorset
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈkɔː(ɹ).sɪt/
Letters6
Frequency rank#27,790
Misspellings tracked9
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “corset” 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). corset 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 corset is 6 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈkɔː(ɹ).sɪt/. Corpus data places it at rank #27,790 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.

Our generated misspelling index lists 9 likely wrong-spelling variants for corset, with forms such as "ccorset", "corest", and "corrset". 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 20 confusable-pair relationships, "cost", "curse", "covet", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English corset, from Old French corset. Equivalent to corse + -et. The correct English form is corset, spelled C-O-R-S-E-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    A woman's foundation garment, reinforced with stays, that supports the waistline, hips and bust.
  2. 2
    A tight-fitting gown or basque worn by both men and women during the Middle Ages.
  3. 3
    A regulation that limited the growth of British banks' interest-bearing deposits.

Etymology

From Middle English corset, from Old French corset. Equivalent to corse + -et.

Synonyms

staysbodice and underbodice

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ccorset,corest,corrset,corsett,corsset,corste,cosret,croset,ocrset

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

ccorset1corest2corrset1corsett1corsset1corste2cosret2croset2
Edit distance from "corset"

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 "corset"?
"corset" is spelled C-O-R-S-E-T. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈkɔː(ɹ).sɪt/.
What does "corset" mean?
As a noun, "corset" means: A woman's foundation garment, reinforced with stays, that supports the waistline, hips and bust.
What words are commonly confused with "corset"?
"corset" is commonly confused with "cost", "curse", "covet". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "corset"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "corset" is /ˈkɔː(ɹ).sɪt/. 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 "corset"?
From Middle English corset, from Old French corset. Equivalent to corse + -et. 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 “corset”

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

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