document

/ˈdɒkjʊmənt/

//ˈdɒkjʊmənt// noun

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

The verdict

“document” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #2,987 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#2,987
frequency rank, English
8
letters
12
tracked misspellings
1
confusable pair

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - An original or official paper used as the basis, proof, or support of anything else, including any writing, book, or other instrument conveying information pertinent to such proof or support.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

document vs documents
89% similar

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

Key facts for document
PropertyValue
Headworddocument
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈdɒkjʊmənt/
Letters8
Frequency rank#2,987
Misspellings tracked12
Confusable pairs1
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “document” 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). document 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 document is 8 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈdɒkjʊmənt/. Corpus data places it at rank #2,987 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 6 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 document, with forms such as "dcoument", "ddocument", and "doccument". 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 1 confusable-pair relationship, "documents", since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from Middle French document, from Latin documentum. The correct English form is document, spelled D-O-C-U-M-E-N-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    An original or official paper used as the basis, proof, or support of anything else, including any writing, book, or other instrument conveying information pertinent to such proof or support.
  2. 2
    Any material substance on which the information is represented by writing.
  3. 3
    A file that contains text.
  4. 4
    An object conveying information by whatever means, capable of being indexed alongside other similar objects.
  5. 5
    That which is taught or authoritatively set forth; precept; instruction; dogma.
  6. 6
    An example for instruction or warning.

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French document, from Latin documentum.

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: dcoument,ddocument,doccument,docmuent,docuemnt,documennt,documentt,documetn,documment,documnet,doucment,odcument

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of document - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

dcoument2ddocument1doccument1docmuent2docuemnt2documennt1documentt1documetn2
Edit distance from "document"

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 "document"?
"document" is spelled D-O-C-U-M-E-N-T. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈdɒkjʊmənt/.
What does "document" mean?
As a noun, "document" means: An original or official paper used as the basis, proof, or support of anything else, including any writing, book, or other instrument conveying information pertinent to such proof or support.
What words are commonly confused with "document"?
"document" is commonly confused with "documents". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "document"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "document" is /ˈdɒkjʊmənt/. 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 "document"?
Borrowed from Middle French document, from Latin documentum. 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 “document”

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

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