cubic

/ˈkjuː.bɪk/

//ˈkjuː.bɪk// adj

"cubic" is a 5-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“cubic” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #11,009 in English word frequency and used as an adjective.

#11,009
frequency rank, English
5
letters
7
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Used in the names of units of volume formed by multiplying a unit of length by itself twice.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

cubic vs Cui
40% similar
cubic vs Cubs
40% similar
cubic vs cutie
60% similar

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

Key facts for cubic
PropertyValue
Headwordcubic
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˈkjuː.bɪk/
Letters5
Frequency rank#11,009
Misspellings tracked7
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “cubic” 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). cubic 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 cubic is 5 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈkjuː.bɪk/. Corpus data places it at rank #11,009 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 7 likely wrong-spelling variants for cubic, with forms such as "cbuic", "ccubic", and "cubbic". 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, "Cui", "Cubs", "cutie", 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 French cubique, equivalent to cube + -ic. The correct English form is cubic, spelled C-U-B-I-C.

Definition

  1. 1
    Used in the names of units of volume formed by multiplying a unit of length by itself twice.
  2. 2
    Relating to polynomials of the form ax³+bx²+cx+d.
  3. 3
    Having three equal axes and all angles 90°.

Etymology

From Middle French cubique, equivalent to cube + -ic.

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: cbuic,ccubic,cubbic,cubci,cubicc,cuibc,ucbic

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

cbuic2ccubic1cubbic1cubci2cubicc1cuibc2ucbic2
Edit distance from "cubic"

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 "cubic"?
"cubic" is spelled C-U-B-I-C. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈkjuː.bɪk/.
What does "cubic" mean?
As an adjective, "cubic" means: Used in the names of units of volume formed by multiplying a unit of length by itself twice.
What words are commonly confused with "cubic"?
"cubic" is commonly confused with "Cui", "Cubs", "cutie". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "cubic"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "cubic" is /ˈkjuː.bɪk/. 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 "cubic"?
From Middle French cubique, equivalent to cube + -ic. 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 “cubic”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is C-U-B-I-C - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈkjuː.bɪk/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “Cui” - see the side-by-side comparison. cubic vs Cui
  • 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