earwax

/ˈiɹ.wæks/

//ˈiɹ.wæks// noun

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

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

The verdict

“earwax” is uncommon English (frequency #76,740 among 18,836 “E” headwords), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#76,740
frequency rank, English
18,836
“E” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A waxy substance secreted by the ear.

Key facts for earwax
PropertyValue
Headwordearwax
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈiɹ.wæks/
Letters6
Frequency rank#76,740
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “earwax” 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). earwax lands here:

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

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

earwax is uncommon English at frequency #76,740 among 18,836 “E” headwords, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈiɹ.wæks/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. Gloss: "A waxy substance secreted by the ear.".

earwax doesn't appear in our generated misspelling index, since its letter sequence doesn't invite the usual edit-distance slips. Our dataset records no confusable match here, 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 erewax, from ere + wax. Equivalent to ear + wax. The correct English form is earwax, spelled E-A-R-W-A-X.

Definition

  1. 1
    A waxy substance secreted by the ear.

Etymology

From Middle English erewax, from ere + wax. Equivalent to ear + wax.

This word in other languages

cerilla(Español)cérumen(Français)Ohrenschmalz(Deutsch)cera(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 "earwax"?
"earwax" is spelled E-A-R-W-A-X. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈiɹ.wæks/.
What does "earwax" mean?
As a noun, "earwax" means: A waxy substance secreted by the ear.
How do you pronounce "earwax"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "earwax" is /ˈiɹ.wæks/. 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 "earwax"?
From Middle English erewax, from ere + wax. Equivalent to ear + wax. 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 “earwax”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is E-A-R-W-A-X - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈiɹ.wæks/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Other uncommon English words near this rank

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