define

/dɪˈfaɪn/

//dɪˈfaɪn// verb

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

"define" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“define” has 8 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #4,224. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#4,224
frequency rank, English
3,470
“D” headwords
8
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - To determine with precision; to mark out with distinctness; to ascertain or exhibit clearly.

Corpus desk

Index EN-define · define · English

define · rank #4,224 · 8 variants · 20 confusables

  • FREQ-COMMON #4,224
  • LEN-LONG 6 letters
  • VOW-3 3 vowels
  • CONFUS-HIGH 20 pairs
  • VAR-MID 8 variants
  • BOOK-MID 3,470
  • PHOTO-FINISH database

Nearest frequency peer: database (-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.

Rank peers near misspelling magnet “define”

Same rarity band: useful when a typo lands on a peer headword

corpus weight

What this shows “define” sits among these FrequencyWords peers; misspelling depth is tracked separately in the edit-distance chart.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

define vs dine
67% similar
define vs Devin
50% similar
define vs device
67% similar

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

Key facts for define
PropertyValue
Headworddefine
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/dɪˈfaɪn/
Letters6
Frequency rank#4,224
Misspellings tracked8
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “define”

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).definelands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Same rarity band neighbours include “database” (#4,223), “discrimination” (#4,225), “dare” (#4,222). Among 3,470 “D” headwords, “define” is #4,224. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 8 spelling variants around define (IPA /dɪˈfaɪn/), averb. Corpus frequency is #4,224 among 3,470 “D” headwords. Wiktionary lists 7 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 8 likely wrong-spelling variants for define, with forms such as "ddefine", "deffine", and "defien". 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, "dine", "Devin", "device", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English definen, from Old French definer, variant of definir, from Latin dēfīniō (“limit, settle, define”), from dē + fīniō (“set a limit, bound, end”). The correct English form is define, spelled D-E-F-I-N-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To determine with precision; to mark out with distinctness; to ascertain or exhibit clearly.
  2. 2
    To settle, decide (an argument etc.)
  3. 3
    To express the essential nature of something.
  4. 4
    To state the meaning of a word, phrase, sign, or symbol.
  5. 5
    To describe, explain, or make definite and clear; used to request the listener or other person to elaborate or explain more clearly his or her intended meaning of a word or expression.
  6. 6
    To demark sharply the outlines or limits of an area or concept.
  7. 7
    To establish the referent of a term or notation.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

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

  1. the defining power of an optical instrument
  2. Rings[…]very distinct and well defined.

Etymology

From Middle English definen, from Old French definer, variant of definir, from Latin dēfīniō (“limit, settle, define”), from dē + fīniō (“set a limit, bound, end”).

This word in other languages

determinar(Español)déterminer(Français)bestimmen(Deutsch)definir(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • ddefine
  • deffine
  • defien
  • definne
  • defnie
  • deifne
  • dfeine
  • edfine

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of define - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

ddefine1deffine1defien2definne1defnie2deifne2dfeine2edfine2
Edit distance from "define"

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 "define"?
"define" is spelled D-E-F-I-N-E. The IPA pronunciation is /dɪˈfaɪn/.
What does "define" mean?
As a verb, "define" means: To determine with precision; to mark out with distinctness; to ascertain or exhibit clearly.
What words are commonly confused with "define"?
"define" is commonly confused with "dine", "Devin", "device". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "define"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "define" is /dɪˈfaɪn/. 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 "define"?
From Middle English definen, from Old French definer, variant of definir, from Latin dēfīniō (“limit, settle, define”), from dē + fīniō (“set a limit, bound, end”). 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 "define", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 6 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

checks#4,218domain#4,230burned#4,216edited#4,232

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (8 here; floor ≥5).

favour8 variantswalks8 variantstrials8 variantspraise8 variants

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list