derelict

/ˈdɛr.ə.lɪkt/

//ˈdɛr.ə.lɪkt// adj

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

"derelict" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“derelict” has 12 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #25,350. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#25,350
frequency rank, English
3,470
“D” headwords
12
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - Given up by the guardian or owner; abandoned, forsaken.

Corpus desk

Index EN-derelict · derelict · English

derelict · rank #25,350 · 12 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-MID #25,350
  • LEN-LONG 8 letters
  • VOW-3 3 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-MID 12 variants
  • BOOK-MID 3,470
  • PHOTO-FINISH delegated

Nearest frequency peer: delegated (-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 “derelict”

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

corpus weight

What this shows “derelict” 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
Key facts for derelict
PropertyValue
Headwordderelict
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˈdɛr.ə.lɪkt/
Letters8
Frequency rank#25,350
Misspellings tracked12
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “derelict”

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right).derelictlands here:

#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. Same rarity band neighbours include “delegated” (#25,349), “deems” (#25,348), “Decatur” (#25,346). Among 3,470 “D” headwords, “derelict” is #25,350. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 12 spelling variants around derelict (IPA /ˈdɛr.ə.lɪkt/), anadjective. Corpus frequency is #25,350 among 3,470 “D” headwords. Wiktionary lists 5 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 12 likely wrong-spelling variants for derelict, with forms such as "dderelict", "deerlict", and "dereilct". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. Our dataset records no confusable match here, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: PIE word *de The adjective and verb are a learned borrowing from Latin dērelictus (“(completely) abandoned, deserted, forsaken; discarded”), the perfect passive participle of dērelinquō (“to abandon, desert, forsake; to discard”), from dē- (prefix meaning … The correct English form is derelict, spelled D-E-R-E-L-I-C-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    Given up by the guardian or owner; abandoned, forsaken.
  2. 2
    Given up by the guardian or owner; abandoned, forsaken.
  3. 3
    Of property: in a poor state due to abandonment or neglect; dilapidated, neglected.
  4. 4
    Adrift, lost.
  5. 5
    Negligent in performing a duty; careless.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

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

  1. [T]heſe affections, vvhich theſe expoſed or derelict children bear to their Mothers, have no grounds of nature or aſſiduity but civility and opinion; […]
  2. We may be pardoned our nostalgia, those of us who can remember the old days, the days before the grouping and before standardisation, when we see, as today we see so often, the derelict and abandoned buildings of what were once railway stations, for the life which they used to enjoy we lived with them. There they stand, today, as the dusk deepens about th…

Etymology

PIE word *de The adjective and verb are a learned borrowing from Latin dērelictus (“(completely) abandoned, deserted, forsaken; discarded”), the perfect passive participle of dērelinquō (“to abandon, desert, forsake; to discard”), from dē- (prefix meaning ‘away from; completely, thoroughly’) + relinquō (“to abandon, desert, forsake, leave (behind); to depart (from); to give up, relinquish”) (from Proto-Italic *wrelinkʷō, from *wre (“again”) (whence Latin rē- (prefix meaning ‘again’)) + *linkʷō (“to leave”) (whence linquō (“to forsake; depart from, leave, quit”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *leykʷ- (“to leave”))). Doublet of relict, relic, and relinquish. The noun is derived from the adjective.

This word in other languages

abandonado(Español)abandonné(Français)aufgegeben(Deutsch)derelito(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • dderelict
  • deerlict
  • dereilct
  • derelcit
  • derelicct
  • derelictt
  • derelitc
  • derellict
  • derleict
  • derrelict
  • dreelict
  • edrelict

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

dderelict1deerlict2dereilct2derelcit2derelicct1derelictt1derelitc2derellict1
Edit distance from "derelict"

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 "derelict"?
"derelict" is spelled D-E-R-E-L-I-C-T. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈdɛr.ə.lɪkt/.
What does "derelict" mean?
As an adjective, "derelict" means: Given up by the guardian or owner; abandoned, forsaken.
What are common misspellings of "derelict"?
Common misspellings include "dderelict", "deerlict", "dereilct", "derelcit", "derelicct". The correct spelling is "derelict".
How do you pronounce "derelict"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "derelict" is /ˈdɛr.ə.lɪkt/. 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 "derelict"?
PIE word *de The adjective and verb are a learned borrowing from Latin dērelictus (“(completely) abandoned, deserted, forsaken; discarded”), the perfect passive participle of dērelinquō (“to abandon, desert, forsake; to discard”), from dē- (prefi... 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 "derelict", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 8 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

creditor#25,340Estonian#25,375campfire#25,310Giuliani#25,393

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (12 here; floor ≥5).

dissident12 variantscraziness12 variantsegregious12 variantscausation12 variants

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list