double

/ˈdʌb.əl/

//ˈdʌb.əl// adj

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

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

The verdict

“double” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #1,049 in English word frequency and used as an adjective.

#1,049
frequency rank, English
6
letters
8
tracked misspellings
16
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Made up of two matching or complementary elements.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

double vs doubt
67% similar
double vs Doyle
50% similar
double vs douse
67% similar

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

Key facts for double
PropertyValue
Headworddouble
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˈdʌb.əl/
Letters6
Frequency rank#1,049
Misspellings tracked8
Confusable pairs16
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “double” 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). double 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 double is 6 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈdʌb.əl/. Corpus data places it at rank #1,049 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 11 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 8 likely wrong-spelling variants for double, with forms such as "ddouble", "dobule", and "doubble". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. It also participates in 16 confusable-pair relationships, "doubt", "Doyle", "douse", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: PIE word *dwóh₁ From Middle English double, from Old French doble, double, from Latin duplus (“twofold”). Doublet of doppio and duple. The correct English form is double, spelled D-O-U-B-L-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    Made up of two matching or complementary elements.
  2. 2
    Of twice the quantity.
  3. 3
    Of a family relationship, related on both the maternal and paternal sides of a family.
  4. 4
    Designed for two (people, cars, etc.).
  5. 5
    Folded in two; composed of two layers.
  6. 6
    Stooping; bent over.
  7. 7
    Having two aspects; ambiguous.
  8. 8
    False, deceitful, or hypocritical.
  9. 9
    Of flowers, having more than the normal number of petals.
  10. 10
    Of an instrument, sounding an octave lower.
  11. 11
    Of time, twice as fast.

Etymology

PIE word *dwóh₁ From Middle English double, from Old French doble, double, from Latin duplus (“twofold”). Doublet of doppio and duple.

Synonyms

binarytwindualduplicatetwofoldtwofold

Antonyms

halfhalf

This word in other languages

doble(Español)double(Français)doppelt(Deutsch)duplo(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ddouble,dobule,doubble,doubel,doublle,doulbe,duoble,oduble

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

ddouble1dobule2doubble1doubel2doublle1doulbe2duoble2oduble2
Edit distance from "double"

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 "double"?
"double" is spelled D-O-U-B-L-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈdʌb.əl/.
What does "double" mean?
As an adjective, "double" means: Made up of two matching or complementary elements.
What words are commonly confused with "double"?
"double" is commonly confused with "doubt", "Doyle", "douse". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "double"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "double" is /ˈdʌb.əl/. 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 "double"?
PIE word *dwóh₁ From Middle English double, from Old French doble, double, from Latin duplus (“twofold”). Doublet of doppio and duple. 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 “double”

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

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