detector

/dɪˈtɛktə(ɹ)/

//dɪˈtɛktə(ɹ)// noun

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

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

The verdict

“detector” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #11,017 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#11,017
frequency rank, English
8
letters
12
tracked misspellings
5
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A device capable of registering a specific substance or physical phenomenon, and that optionally sounds an alarm or triggers a warning.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

detector vs director
75% similar
detector vs detect
75% similar
detector vs detected
75% similar

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

Key facts for detector
PropertyValue
Headworddetector
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/dɪˈtɛktə(ɹ)/
Letters8
Frequency rank#11,017
Misspellings tracked12
Confusable pairs5
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “detector” 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). detector 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 detector is 8 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /dɪˈtɛktə(ɹ)/. Corpus data places it at rank #11,017 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 12 likely wrong-spelling variants for detector, with forms such as "ddetector", "deetctor", and "detcetor". 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 5 confusable-pair relationships, "director", "detect", "detected", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from Latin dētēctor. Equals detect + -or (agent noun forming suffix). The correct English form is detector, spelled D-E-T-E-C-T-O-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    A device capable of registering a specific substance or physical phenomenon, and that optionally sounds an alarm or triggers a warning.
  2. 2
    A device capable of registering a specific substance or physical phenomenon, and that optionally sounds an alarm or triggers a warning.
  3. 3
    A device capable of registering a specific substance or physical phenomenon, and that optionally sounds an alarm or triggers a warning.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin dētēctor. Equals detect + -or (agent noun forming suffix).

This word in other languages

détecteur(Français)Detektor(Deutsch)detector(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ddetector,deetctor,detcetor,detecctor,detecotr,detectorr,detectro,detecttor,detetcor,dettector,dteector,edtector

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

ddetector1deetctor2detcetor2detecctor1detecotr2detectorr1detectro2detecttor1
Edit distance from "detector"

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 "detector"?
"detector" is spelled D-E-T-E-C-T-O-R. The IPA pronunciation is /dɪˈtɛktə(ɹ)/.
What does "detector" mean?
As a noun, "detector" means: A device capable of registering a specific substance or physical phenomenon, and that optionally sounds an alarm or triggers a warning.
What words are commonly confused with "detector"?
"detector" is commonly confused with "director", "detect", "detected". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "detector"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "detector" is /dɪˈtɛktə(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 "detector"?
Borrowed from Latin dētēctor. Equals detect + -or (agent noun forming suffix). 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 “detector”

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

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