cumulative

/ˈkjuːmjʊlətɪv/

//ˈkjuːmjʊlətɪv// adj

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

"cumulative" is a 10-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“cumulative” has 14 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #13,896. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#13,896
frequency rank, English
5,599
“C” headwords
14
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - Incorporating all current and previous data up to the present or at the time of measuring or collating.

Corpus desk

Index EN-cumulative · cumulative · English

cumulative · rank #13,896 · 14 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-MID #13,896
  • LEN-MEGA 10 letters
  • VOW-5 5 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-HIGH 14 variants
  • BOOK-DENSE 5,599
  • PHOTO-FINISH CU

Nearest frequency peer: CU (-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.

Frequency neighbourhood for “cumulative”

Lower corpus rank = more everyday usage (inverted bar length for readability)

corpus weight

What this shows Bars show where “cumulative” sits against the nearest ranked English headwords in the FrequencyWords band, not a reprint of letter-browse containment.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026
Key facts for cumulative
PropertyValue
Headwordcumulative
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˈkjuːmjʊlətɪv/
Letters10
Frequency rank#13,896
Misspellings tracked14
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “cumulative” sits in English frequency

Word frequency stretches from the small set of words we reach for constantly (left) out to the long tail barely used once in a while (right).cumulative lands 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. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 14 spelling variants around cumulative (IPA /ˈkjuːmjʊlətɪv/), anadjective. Corpus frequency is #13,896 among 5,599 “C” headwords. Wiktionary lists 6 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 14 likely wrong-spelling variants for cumulative, with forms such as "ccumulative", "cmuulative", and "cumluative". 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. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: From cumulate + -ive. Compare also French cumulatif, Italian cumulativo and Spanish cumulativo. The correct English form is cumulative, spelled C-U-M-U-L-A-T-I-V-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    Incorporating all current and previous data up to the present or at the time of measuring or collating.
  2. 2
    That is formed by an accumulation of successive additions.
  3. 3
    That is formed by an accumulation of successive additions.
  4. 4
    That tends to accumulate.
  5. 5
    Having priority rights to receive a dividend that accrue until paid.
  6. 6
    (of evidence, witnesses, etc.) Intended to illustrate an argument that has already been demonstrated excessively.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

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

  1. As for knowledge which man receiveth by teaching, it is cumulative, not original.
  2. The argument […] is in very truth not logical and single, but moral and cumulative.

Etymology

From cumulate + -ive. Compare also French cumulatif, Italian cumulativo and Spanish cumulativo.

This word in other languages

acumulativo(Español)cumulé(Français)kumulativ(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • ccumulative
  • cmuulative
  • cumluative
  • cummulative
  • cumualtive
  • cumulaitve
  • cumulatiev
  • cumulativve
  • cumulattive
  • cumulatvie
  • cumullative
  • cumultaive
  • cuumlative
  • ucmulative

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

ccumulative1cmuulative2cumluative2cummulative1cumualtive2cumulaitve2cumulatiev2cumulativve1
Edit distance from "cumulative"

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.

PlainSpell is rendered directly from structured Wiktionary extracts and open word-frequency lists, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of September 3, 2026. Primary sources: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) and FrequencyWords.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "cumulative"?
"cumulative" is spelled C-U-M-U-L-A-T-I-V-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈkjuːmjʊlətɪv/.
What does "cumulative" mean?
As an adjective, "cumulative" means: Incorporating all current and previous data up to the present or at the time of measuring or collating.
What are common misspellings of "cumulative"?
Common misspellings include "ccumulative", "cmuulative", "cumluative", "cummulative", "cumualtive". The correct spelling is "cumulative".
How do you pronounce "cumulative"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "cumulative" is /ˈkjuːmjʊlətɪv/. 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 "cumulative"?
From cumulate + -ive. Compare also French cumulatif, Italian cumulativo and Spanish cumulativo. 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 "cumulative", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 10 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

distortion#13,904hesitation#13,929impairment#13,932lighthouse#13,948

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (14 here; floor ≥5).

Chrysler14 variantsinsisting14 variantslongevity14 variantssubmitting14 variants

What to do next

You've looked up "cumulative". Here's where to go from here.

  • 14 edit-distance misspelling variants are generated for spell-check research on this headword. See variants
  • Usage frequency rank #13,896 among English headwords in this corpus. Corpus statistics
  • Browse more English words in the "C" letter cohort. C–Z browse
  • PlainSpell rotates a curated Word of the Day from the English corpus, a passive way to discover vocabulary. Word of the Day

PlainSpell is a reference corpus, not spelling advice. Verify unusual forms in context.

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