cuneiform

/ˈkjuː.nɪ.fɔːm/

//ˈkjuː.nɪ.fɔːm// adj

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

"cuneiform" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“cuneiform” is uncommon English (frequency #51,050 among 5,599 “C” headwords), classed as an adjective. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#51,050
frequency rank, English
5,599
“C” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - Having the form of a wedge; wedge-shaped, especially with a tapered end.

Corpus desk

Index EN-cuneiform · cuneiform · English

cuneiform · rank #51,050 · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-RARE #51,050
  • LEN-LONG 9 letters
  • VOW-4 4 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-DENSE 5,599
  • PHOTO-FINISH culpa

Nearest frequency peer: culpa (-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.

Long-tail ranks near “cuneiform”

Sparse band: bars invert rank so rarer forms read shorter

corpus weight

What this shows Long-tail view: where “cuneiform” sits against similarly uncommon English ranks.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026
Key facts for cuneiform
PropertyValue
Headwordcuneiform
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˈkjuː.nɪ.fɔːm/
Letters9
Frequency rank#51,050
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “cuneiform” in English

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

#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. Rare peers in the same band: “culpa” (#51,049), “cuttlefish” (#51,051), “cuddy” (#51,048). Among 5,599 “C” headwords, “cuneiform” is #51,050. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

cuneiform is uncommon English at frequency #51,050 among 5,599 “C” headwords, classed as anadjective, transcribed /ˈkjuː.nɪ.fɔːm/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 2 senses are on record.

Our edit-distance generator produced no likely misspellings for cuneiform, suggesting the orthography follows predictable English patterns. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: From French cunéiforme or New Latin cuneifōrmis, from Classical Latin cuneus (“wedge”) + fōrma. The correct English form is cuneiform, spelled C-U-N-E-I-F-O-R-M.

Definition

  1. 1
    Having the form of a wedge; wedge-shaped, especially with a tapered end.
  2. 2
    Written in the cuneiform writing system.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

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

  1. About midway across the larger log a cuneiform notch or cut about six inches deep was made.
  2. The cuneiform tendon is always sharply defined when the hock is flexed by the action of the muscle.

Etymology

From French cunéiforme or New Latin cuneifōrmis, from Classical Latin cuneus (“wedge”) + fōrma.

Synonyms

cunealcuneiform boneprecuneiformwedgelikewedge-shapedwedgy

This word in other languages

cuneiforme(Español)cunéiforme(Français)keilförmig(Deutsch)

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 "cuneiform"?
"cuneiform" is spelled C-U-N-E-I-F-O-R-M. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈkjuː.nɪ.fɔːm/.
What does "cuneiform" mean?
As an adjective, "cuneiform" means: Having the form of a wedge; wedge-shaped, especially with a tapered end.
How do you pronounce "cuneiform"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "cuneiform" is /ˈkjuː.nɪ.fɔːm/. 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 "cuneiform"?
From French cunéiforme or New Latin cuneifōrmis, from Classical Latin cuneus (“wedge”) + fōrma. 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 "cuneiform", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 9 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

cornfield#51,035disrepute#51,068Edgewater#51,081Caithness#51,009

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list