# dreadlocks

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈdɹɛdlɒks/ · frequency rank #45,898

## Definitions
1. A hairstyle worn by Rastafarians and others in which the hair is left to grow long, and twisted into matted strings.

## Etymology
Borrowed from Jamaican Creole dreadlocks, from dread (“of or relating to a dread”, adjective) (from dread (“(usually black) male member of the Rastafarian movement who wears his hair in dreadlocks”, noun), from English dread (“reverential or respectful fear; awe”), referring to the awe inspired by God) + English locks (plural of lock (“length or tuft of hair”)). The English word is analyzable as dread (“Rastafarian”, attributive) + locks.

## Easily confused with
- **deadlock** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/deadlock-vs-dreadlocks)

## Common misspellings (16)
`ddreadlocks`, `deradlocks`, `draedlocks`, `dreaddlocks`, `dreadlcoks`, `dreadllocks`, `dreadloccks`, `dreadlockks`, `dreadlockss`, `dreadlocsk`, `dreadlokcs`, `dreadolcks`, `drealdocks`, `dredalocks`, `drreadlocks`, `rdeadlocks`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/dreadlocks