derrick
/ˈdɛɹɪk/
"derrick" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“derrick” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #15,141 in English word frequency and used as a noun.
- #15,141
- frequency rank, English
- 7
- letters
- 9
- tracked misspellings
- 2
- confusable pairs
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A device that is used for lifting and moving large objects.
Visual similarity to commonly confused words
How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).
Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | derrick |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Noun |
| IPA | /ˈdɛɹɪk/ |
| Letters | 7 |
| Frequency rank | #15,141 |
| Misspellings tracked | 9 |
| Confusable pairs | 2 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “derrick” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for derrick is 7 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈdɛɹɪk/. Corpus data places it at rank #15,141 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.
Our generated misspelling index lists 9 likely wrong-spelling variants for derrick, with forms such as "dderrick", "derick", and "derirck". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 2 confusable-pair relationships, "Derrida", "Derek", where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.
Etymologically, the entry records: Named after British executioner Thomas Derrick, who invented the framework arrangement commonly known by this name to aid in the conduct of executions. First use appears c. 1600 in the publication Ballad Death Earl Essex. The correct English form is derrick, spelled D-E-R-R-I-C-K.
Definition
- 1A device that is used for lifting and moving large objects.
- 2A framework that is constructed over a mine or oil well for the purpose of boring or lowering pipes.
- 3An executioner responsible for hanging convicts; a hangman.
Etymology
Named after British executioner Thomas Derrick, who invented the framework arrangement commonly known by this name to aid in the conduct of executions. First use appears c. 1600 in the publication Ballad Death Earl Essex.
This word in other languages
Common misspellings
Also misspelled as: dderrick,derick,derirck,derrcik,derricck,derrickk,derrikc,drerick,edrrick
Misspelling Pattern Breakdown
How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of derrick - 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.
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 "derrick"?
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Using “derrick”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is D-E-R-R-I-C-K - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /ˈdɛɹɪk/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
- Don't mix it up with “Derrida” - see the side-by-side comparison. derrick vs Derrida
- 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.