detachment

/dɪˈtæt͡ʃmənt/

//dɪˈtæt͡ʃmənt// noun

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

"detachment" is a 10-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“detachment” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #15,797 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#15,797
frequency rank, English
10
letters
16
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The action of detaching; separation.

Key facts for detachment
PropertyValue
Headworddetachment
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/dɪˈtæt͡ʃmənt/
Letters10
Frequency rank#15,797
Misspellings tracked16
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “detachment” 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). detachment 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 detachment is 10 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /dɪˈtæt͡ʃmənt/. Corpus data places it at rank #15,797 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 8 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 16 likely wrong-spelling variants for detachment, with forms such as "ddetachment", "deatchment", and "detacchment". 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. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

Etymologically, the entry records: From French détachement. By surface analysis, detach + -ment. The correct English form is detachment, spelled D-E-T-A-C-H-M-E-N-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    The action of detaching; separation.
  2. 2
    The state of being detached or disconnected; insulation.
  3. 3
    Indifference to the concerns of others; disregard; nonchalance; aloofness.
  4. 4
    Absence of bias; impartiality; objectivity.
  5. 5
    The separation of a military unit from the main body for a particular purpose or special mission.
  6. 6
    The unit so dispatched.
  7. 7
    A permanent unit organized for special duties.
  8. 8
    Any smaller portion of a main body separately employed.

Etymology

From French détachement. By surface analysis, detach + -ment.

This word in other languages

desprendimiento(Español)détachement(Français)Ablösung(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ddetachment,deatchment,detacchment,detachemnt,detachhment,detachmennt,detachmentt,detachmetn,detachmment,detachmnet,detacmhent,detahcment,detcahment,dettachment,dteachment,edtachment

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of detachment - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

ddetachment1deatchment2detacchment1detachemnt2detachhment1detachmennt1detachmentt1detachmetn2
Edit distance from "detachment"

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 "detachment"?
"detachment" is spelled D-E-T-A-C-H-M-E-N-T. The IPA pronunciation is /dɪˈtæt͡ʃmənt/.
What does "detachment" mean?
As a noun, "detachment" means: The action of detaching; separation.
What are common misspellings of "detachment"?
Common misspellings include "ddetachment", "deatchment", "detacchment", "detachemnt", "detachhment". The correct spelling is "detachment".
How do you pronounce "detachment"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "detachment" is /dɪˈtæt͡ʃmənt/. 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 "detachment"?
From French détachement. By surface analysis, detach + -ment. 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 “detachment”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is D-E-T-A-C-H-M-E-N-T - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /dɪˈtæt͡ʃmənt/ (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
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