detectable

/dɪˈtɛktəbəɫ/

//dɪˈtɛktəbəɫ// adj

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

The verdict

“detectable” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #27,430 in English word frequency and used as an adjective.

#27,430
frequency rank, English
10
letters
16
tracked misspellings
2
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Able to be detected, noticeable.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

detectable vs detachable
80% similar
detectable vs delectable
90% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for detectable
PropertyValue
Headworddetectable
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/dɪˈtɛktəbəɫ/
Letters10
Frequency rank#27,430
Misspellings tracked16
Confusable pairs2
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “detectable” 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). detectable 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 detectable is 10 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /dɪˈtɛktəbəɫ/. Corpus data places it at rank #27,430 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. The dominant gloss from Wiktionary reads: "Able to be detected, noticeable.".

Our generated misspelling index lists 16 likely wrong-spelling variants for detectable, with forms such as "ddetectable", "deetctable", and "detcetable". 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. It also participates in 2 confusable-pair relationships, "detachable", "delectable", since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From detect + -able. The correct English form is detectable, spelled D-E-T-E-C-T-A-B-L-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    Able to be detected, noticeable.

Etymology

From detect + -able.

Synonyms

Antonyms

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ddetectable,deetctable,detcetable,detecatble,detecctable,detectabble,detectabel,detectablle,detectalbe,detectbale,detectible,detecttable,detetcable,dettectable,dteectable,edtectable

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of detectable - 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.

ddetectable1deetctable2detcetable2detecatble2detecctable1detectabble1detectabel2detectablle1
Edit distance from "detectable"

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 "detectable"?
"detectable" is spelled D-E-T-E-C-T-A-B-L-E. The IPA pronunciation is /dɪˈtɛktəbəɫ/.
What does "detectable" mean?
As an adjective, "detectable" means: Able to be detected, noticeable.
What words are commonly confused with "detectable"?
"detectable" is commonly confused with "detachable", "delectable". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "detectable"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "detectable" is /dɪˈtɛktəbəɫ/. 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 "detectable"?
From detect + -able. 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 “detectable”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is D-E-T-E-C-T-A-B-L-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /dɪˈtɛktəbəɫ/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “detachable” - see the side-by-side comparison. detectable vs detachable
  • 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