dicker

/ˈdɪkə(ɹ)/

//ˈdɪkə(ɹ)// verb

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

"dicker" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“dicker” is uncommon English (frequency #80,383 among 3,470 “D” headwords), classed as a verb. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#80,383
frequency rank, English
3,470
“D” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - To bargain, haggle or negotiate over a sale.

Corpus desk

Index EN-dicker · dicker · English

dicker · rank #80,383 · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-RARE #80,383
  • LEN-LONG 6 letters
  • VOW-2 2 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-MID 3,470
  • PHOTO-FINISH DGAF

Nearest frequency peer: DGAF (-2 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Long-tail ranks near “dicker”

Sparse band: bars invert rank so rarer forms read shorter

corpus weight

What this shows Long-tail view: where “dicker” sits against similarly uncommon English ranks.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026
Key facts for dicker
PropertyValue
Headworddicker
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ˈdɪkə(ɹ)/
Letters6
Frequency rank#80,383
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “dicker” in English

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right).dickerfalls in this rarity band:

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

Ticks step logarithmically, so each one marks a roughly tenfold drop in how often the word turns up. Rare peers in the same band: “DGAF” (#80,381), “determiner” (#80,380), “determinative” (#80,379). Among 3,470 “D” headwords, “dicker” is #80,383. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

dicker is uncommon English at frequency #80,383 among 3,470 “D” headwords, classed as averb, transcribed /ˈdɪkə(ɹ)/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 3 senses are on record.

We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for dicker, a sign its spelling follows regular English conventions. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English diker (“measure of ten”), from Late Latin dacra (“a dicker”), from Latin decuria (“a ten of something”), from decem (“ten”). The correct English form is dicker, spelled D-I-C-K-E-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    To bargain, haggle or negotiate over a sale.
  2. 2
    To barter.
  3. 3
    To fiddle.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how dicker appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. At Bouira the detachment detrained, and the balance of the journey was made in the saddle. As Tarzan was dickering at Bouira for a mount he caught a brief glimpse of a man in European clothes eying him from the doorway of a native coffeehouse, […]
  2. In the brilliant sparkle of the morning when everything that was not superlatively blue was superlatively green, I dickered with a man who was taking a party up the inlet that he should drop me off at the village I was headed for.

Etymology

From Middle English diker (“measure of ten”), from Late Latin dacra (“a dicker”), from Latin decuria (“a ten of something”), from decem (“ten”).

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 "dicker"?
"dicker" is spelled D-I-C-K-E-R. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈdɪkə(ɹ)/.
What does "dicker" mean?
As a verb, "dicker" means: To bargain, haggle or negotiate over a sale.
How do you pronounce "dicker"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "dicker" is /ˈdɪkə(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 "dicker"?
From Middle English diker (“measure of ten”), from Late Latin dacra (“a dicker”), from Latin decuria (“a ten of something”), from decem (“ten”). 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.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "dicker", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 6 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

demain#80,374Debora#80,369Deboer#80,368cutlet#80,360

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list