Delphic

/ˈdɛlfɪk/

//ˈdɛlfɪk// adj

"delphic" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“Delphic” is uncommon English (frequency #87,199 among 3,470 “D” headwords), classed as an adjective. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#87,199
frequency rank, English
3,470
“D” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - Of or relating to Delphi or its oracles.

Corpus desk

Index EN-delphic · Delphic · English

Delphic · rank #87,199 · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-RARE #87,199
  • LEN-LONG 7 letters
  • VOW-2 2 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-MID 3,470
  • PHOTO-FINISH Delly

Nearest frequency peer: Delly (-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 “Delphic”

Sparse band: bars invert rank so rarer forms read shorter

corpus weight

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

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026
Key facts for Delphic
PropertyValue
HeadwordDelphic
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˈdɛlfɪk/
Letters7
Frequency rank#87,199
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “Delphic” in English

This scale runs from the tiny cluster of words that carry ordinary speech (left) to the long tail of words almost nobody reaches for (right).Delphicfalls 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: “Delly” (#87,198), “demiurge” (#87,200), “defilement” (#87,196). Among 3,470 “D” headwords, “Delphic” is #87,199. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

Delphic is uncommon English at frequency #87,199 among 3,470 “D” headwords, classed as anadjective, transcribed /ˈdɛlfɪk/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 2 senses are on record.

We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for Delphic, since its letter sequence doesn't invite the usual edit-distance slips. 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 Delphi + -ic. The correct English form is Delphic, spelled D-E-L-P-H-I-C.

Definition

  1. 1
    Of or relating to Delphi or its oracles.
  2. 2
    Obscurely prophetic.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

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

  1. As with the Delphic oracle of ancient Greece, physical impairment seemed compensated by almost supernatural gifts, which allowed his mind to roam the universe freely, upon occasion enigmatically revealing some of its secrets hidden from ordinary mortal view.
  2. He telephoned airlines, government contacts and a whole host of pale, over-brushed acquaintances in the U.S. Consulate, who infuriated him with arch and Delphic answers.

Etymology

From Delphi + -ic.

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); 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 "Delphic"?
"Delphic" is spelled D-E-L-P-H-I-C. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈdɛlfɪk/.
What does "Delphic" mean?
As an adjective, "Delphic" means: Of or relating to Delphi or its oracles.
How do you pronounce "Delphic"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "Delphic" is /ˈdɛlfɪk/. 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 "Delphic"?
From Delphi + -ic. 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 "Delphic", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 7 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list