derringer

/ˈdɛɹɪndʒə(ɹ)/

//ˈdɛɹɪndʒə(ɹ)// noun

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

"derringer" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“derringer” is uncommon English (frequency #85,167 among 26,416 “D” headwords), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#85,167
frequency rank, English
26,416
“D” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A type of very small, concealable pistol with one or two barrels, but without any loading system or magazine.

Key facts for derringer
PropertyValue
Headwordderringer
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈdɛɹɪndʒə(ɹ)/
Letters9
Frequency rank#85,167
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “derringer” 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). derringer lands here:

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

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

derringer is uncommon English at frequency #85,167 among 26,416 “D” headwords, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈdɛɹɪndʒə(ɹ)/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. Gloss: "A type of very small, concealable pistol with one or two barrels, but without any loading system or magazine.".

Our edit-distance generator produced no likely misspellings for derringer, since its letter pattern doesn't lend itself to common typo substitutions. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

Etymologically, the entry records: Named after American gunsmith Henry Deringer Junior (1786–1868). The correct English form is derringer, spelled D-E-R-R-I-N-G-E-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    A type of very small, concealable pistol with one or two barrels, but without any loading system or magazine.

Etymology

Named after American gunsmith Henry Deringer Junior (1786–1868).

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 "derringer"?
"derringer" is spelled D-E-R-R-I-N-G-E-R. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈdɛɹɪndʒə(ɹ)/.
What does "derringer" mean?
As a noun, "derringer" means: A type of very small, concealable pistol with one or two barrels, but without any loading system or magazine.
How do you pronounce "derringer"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "derringer" is /ˈdɛɹɪndʒə(ɹ)/. 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 "derringer"?
Named after American gunsmith Henry Deringer Junior (1786–1868). 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 “derringer”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is D-E-R-R-I-N-G-E-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈdɛɹɪndʒə(ɹ)/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Other uncommon English words near this rank

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