cusp

/kʌsp/

//kʌsp// noun

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

"cusp" is a 4-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“cusp” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #27,112 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#27,112
frequency rank, English
4
letters
5
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A sharp point or pointed end.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

cusp vs cut
50% similar
cusp vs cuz
50% similar
cusp vs CVS
0% similar

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

Key facts for cusp
PropertyValue
Headwordcusp
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/kʌsp/
Letters4
Frequency rank#27,112
Misspellings tracked5
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “cusp” 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). cusp 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 cusp is 4 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /kʌsp/. Corpus data places it at rank #27,112 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 8 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 5 likely wrong-spelling variants for cusp, with forms such as "ccusp", "csup", and "cuspp". 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. It also participates in 20 confusable-pair relationships, "cut", "cuz", "CVS", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Latin cuspis (“a point, spear, pointed end”); first used in astrology. Doublet of cuspid and cuspis. The correct English form is cusp, spelled C-U-S-P.

Definition

  1. 1
    A sharp point or pointed end.
  2. 2
    An important moment when a decision is made that will determine future events.
  3. 3
    A point of a curve where the curve is continuous but has no derivative, but such that it has a derivative at every nearby point.
  4. 4
    A point made by the intersection of two curved lines or curved structures, a common motif in Gothic architecture.
  5. 5
    A boundary between zodiacal signs and houses.
  6. 6
    Any of the pointed parts of a canine tooth or molar.
  7. 7
    A flap of a valve of a heart or blood vessel.
  8. 8
    A point of transition.

Etymology

From Latin cuspis (“a point, spear, pointed end”); first used in astrology. Doublet of cuspid and cuspis.

Synonyms

ord

This word in other languages

cúspide(Español)point de rebroussement(Français)Spitze(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ccusp,csup,cuspp,cussp,ucsp

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

ccusp1csup2cuspp1cussp1ucsp2
Edit distance from "cusp"

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 "cusp"?
"cusp" is spelled C-U-S-P. The IPA pronunciation is /kʌsp/.
What does "cusp" mean?
As a noun, "cusp" means: A sharp point or pointed end.
What words are commonly confused with "cusp"?
"cusp" is commonly confused with "cut", "cuz", "CVS". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "cusp"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "cusp" is /kʌsp/. 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 "cusp"?
From Latin cuspis (“a point, spear, pointed end”); first used in astrology. Doublet of cuspid and cuspis. 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 “cusp”

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

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