detoxify

verb

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

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

The verdict

“detoxify” is an uncommon English word, ranked #81,265 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#81,265
frequency rank, English
8
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To remove foreign and harmful substances from something.

Key facts for detoxify
PropertyValue
Headworddetoxify
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
Letters8
Frequency rank#81,265
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “detoxify” 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). detoxify 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 detoxify is 8 letters long, classified as a verb. Corpus data places it at rank #81,265 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 2 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

No generated misspelling entries exist for detoxify in our index, suggesting the orthography follows predictable English patterns. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: Attested since 1905 (twelve years earlier than toxify), from de- + tox- + -ify. (Detoxicate is attested one year earlier, since 1904.) The correct English form is detoxify, spelled D-E-T-O-X-I-F-Y.

Definition

  1. 1
    To remove foreign and harmful substances from something.
  2. 2
    To make something that is harmful more benign.

Etymology

Attested since 1905 (twelve years earlier than toxify), from de- + tox- + -ify. (Detoxicate is attested one year earlier, since 1904.)

Synonyms

detoxicate

This word in other languages

desintoxicar(Español)désintoxiquer(Français)entgiften(Deutsch)desintoxicar(Português)

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 "detoxify"?
"detoxify" is spelled D-E-T-O-X-I-F-Y.
What does "detoxify" mean?
As a verb, "detoxify" means: To remove foreign and harmful substances from something.
What is the origin of the word "detoxify"?
Attested since 1905 (twelve years earlier than toxify), from de- + tox- + -ify. (Detoxicate is attested one year earlier, since 1904.) 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 “detoxify”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is D-E-T-O-X-I-F-Y - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • 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