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” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #4,224 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#4,224
frequency rank, English
6
letters
8
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To determine with precision; to mark out with distinctness; to ascertain or exhibit clearly.

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)

Where “define” 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). define 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 define is 6 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /dɪˈfaɪn/. Corpus data places it at rank #4,224 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 7 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

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.

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.

Using “define”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is D-E-F-I-N-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /dɪˈfaɪn/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “dine” - see the side-by-side comparison. define vs dine
  • 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