counterpoint

/ˈkaʊntə(ɹ)ˌpɔɪnt/

//ˈkaʊntə(ɹ)ˌpɔɪnt// noun

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

"counterpoint" is a 12-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“counterpoint” has 18 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #25,022. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#25,022
frequency rank, English
5,599
“C” headwords
18
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - A melody added to an existing one, especially one added to provide harmony whilst each retains its simultaneous identity; a composition consisting of such contrapuntal melodies.

Corpus desk

Index EN-counterpoint · counterpoint · English

counterpoint · rank #25,022 · 18 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-MID #25,022
  • LEN-MEGA 12 letters
  • VOW-5 5 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-HIGH 18 variants
  • BOOK-DENSE 5,599
  • PHOTO-FINISH corrosive

Nearest frequency peer: corrosive (-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.

Rank peers near misspelling magnet “counterpoint”

Same rarity band: useful when a typo lands on a peer headword

corpus weight

What this shows “counterpoint” sits among these FrequencyWords peers; misspelling depth is tracked separately in the edit-distance chart.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026
Key facts for counterpoint
PropertyValue
Headwordcounterpoint
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈkaʊntə(ɹ)ˌpɔɪnt/
Letters12
Frequency rank#25,022
Misspellings tracked18
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “counterpoint”

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right).counterpointlands here:

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

Ticks step logarithmically, so each one marks a roughly tenfold drop in how often the word turns up. Same rarity band neighbours include “corrosive” (#25,021), “conversational” (#25,020), “cowardice” (#25,024). Among 5,599 “C” headwords, “counterpoint” is #25,022. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 18 spelling variants around counterpoint (IPA /ˈkaʊntə(ɹ)ˌpɔɪnt/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #25,022 among 5,599 “C” headwords. Wiktionary lists 3 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 18 likely wrong-spelling variants for counterpoint, with forms such as "ccounterpoint", "conuterpoint", and "counetrpoint". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: Inherited from Middle English [Term?], from Middle French contrepoint, from Medieval Latin contrāpūnctum. Equivalent to counter- + point. The correct English form is counterpoint, spelled C-O-U-N-T-E-R-P-O-I-N-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    A melody added to an existing one, especially one added to provide harmony whilst each retains its simultaneous identity; a composition consisting of such contrapuntal melodies.
  2. 2
    Any similar contrasting element in a work of art.
  3. 3
    An opposite point.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

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

  1. I noticed […] that when a very cheesy synthesized violin sound plays in counterpoint with a real violin, it can quite convincingly seem as if two violins are playing.
  2. As counterpoints to the glamorous looks of 1980s models such as Chistie Brinkley and Heidi Klum, heroin chic looks such as Kate Moss were thin to the point of anorectic gauntness.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English [Term?], from Middle French contrepoint, from Medieval Latin contrāpūnctum. Equivalent to counter- + point.

Synonyms

contrapuntal musicpolyphony

This word in other languages

contrapunto(Español)contrepoint(Français)Kontrapunkt(Deutsch)contraponto(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • ccounterpoint
  • conuterpoint
  • counetrpoint
  • counnterpoint
  • counteproint
  • counteropint
  • counterpiont
  • counterpoinnt
  • counterpointt
  • counterpoitn
  • counterponit
  • counterppoint
  • counterrpoint
  • countrepoint
  • countterpoint
  • coutnerpoint
  • cuonterpoint
  • ocunterpoint

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of counterpoint - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

ccounterpoint1conuterpoint2counetrpoint2counnterpoint1counteproint2counteropint2counterpiont2counterpoinnt1
Edit distance from "counterpoint"

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 "counterpoint"?
"counterpoint" is spelled C-O-U-N-T-E-R-P-O-I-N-T. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈkaʊntə(ɹ)ˌpɔɪnt/.
What does "counterpoint" mean?
As a noun, "counterpoint" means: A melody added to an existing one, especially one added to provide harmony whilst each retains its simultaneous identity; a composition consisting of such contrapuntal melodies.
What are common misspellings of "counterpoint"?
Common misspellings include "ccounterpoint", "conuterpoint", "counetrpoint", "counnterpoint", "counteproint". The correct spelling is "counterpoint".
How do you pronounce "counterpoint"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "counterpoint" is /ˈkaʊntə(ɹ)ˌpɔɪnt/. 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 "counterpoint"?
Inherited from Middle English [Term?], from Middle French contrepoint, from Medieval Latin contrāpūnctum. Equivalent to counter- + point. 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 "counterpoint", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 12 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

Chesterfield#25,008unilaterally#24,942subterranean#25,226intoxication#24,800

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (18 here; floor ≥5).

disgruntled18 variantssubsistence18 variantsunknowingly18 variantsGlastonbury18 variants

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list