defalcate
[ˈdɛfəɫkeɪt]
"defalcate" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“defalcate” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a verb - the kind of word writers most often double-check.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 9
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To misappropriate funds; to embezzle.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | defalcate |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Verb |
| IPA | [ˈdɛfəɫkeɪt] |
| Letters | 9 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “defalcate” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for defalcate is 9 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as [ˈdɛfəɫkeɪt]. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.
defalcate doesn't appear in our generated misspelling index, a sign its spelling follows regular English conventions. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.
Etymologically, the entry records: First attested in the 1530s, in the sense “to lop off”; borrowed from Medieval Latin dēfalcātus, perfect passive participle of dēfalcō (“to cut or lop off”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from Latin dē (“off”) + falx (“sickle, scythe, pruning hook”) + -ō… The correct English form is defalcate, spelled D-E-F-A-L-C-A-T-E.
Definition
- 1To misappropriate funds; to embezzle.
- 2To cut off (a part of something).
- 3To deduct or take away (a part of income, money, rents, etc.).
Etymology
First attested in the 1530s, in the sense “to lop off”; borrowed from Medieval Latin dēfalcātus, perfect passive participle of dēfalcō (“to cut or lop off”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from Latin dē (“off”) + falx (“sickle, scythe, pruning hook”) + -ō (verb-forming suffix).
This word in other languages
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Using “defalcate”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is D-E-F-A-L-C-A-T-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as [ˈdɛfəɫkeɪt] (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
- 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.