effect

/ɪˈfɛkt/

//ɪˈfɛkt// noun

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

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

The verdict

“effect” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #1,015 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#1,015
frequency rank, English
6
letters
7
tracked misspellings
9
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The result or outcome of a cause.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

effect vs elect
67% similar
effect vs erect
67% similar
effect vs eject
67% similar

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

Key facts for effect
PropertyValue
Headwordeffect
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ɪˈfɛkt/
Letters6
Frequency rank#1,015
Misspellings tracked7
Confusable pairs9
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “effect” 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). effect 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 effect is 6 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɪˈfɛkt/. Corpus data places it at rank #1,015 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 12 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 7 likely wrong-spelling variants for effect, with forms such as "efect", "efefct", and "effcet". 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 9 confusable-pair relationships, "elect", "erect", "eject", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: Of the noun: from Middle English effect, from Old French effect (modern French effet), from Latin effectus (“an effect, tendency, purpose”), from efficiō (“accomplish, complete, effect”); see effect as a verb. Displaced Old English fremming, fremednes from … The correct English form is effect, spelled E-F-F-E-C-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    The result or outcome of a cause.
  2. 2
    Impression left on the mind; sensation produced.
  3. 3
    Execution; performance; realization; operation.
  4. 4
    Execution; performance; realization; operation.
  5. 5
    An illusion produced by technical means (as in "special effect")
  6. 6
    An alteration, or device for producing an alteration, in sound after it has been produced by an instrument.
  7. 7
    A scientific phenomenon, usually named after its discoverer.
  8. 8
    An influence or causal association between two variables.
  9. 9
    Belongings, usually as personal effects.
  10. 10
    Consequence intended; purpose; meaning; general intent; with to.
  11. 11
    Reality; actual meaning; fact, as distinguished from mere appearance.
  12. 12
    Manifestation; expression; sign.

Etymology

Of the noun: from Middle English effect, from Old French effect (modern French effet), from Latin effectus (“an effect, tendency, purpose”), from efficiō (“accomplish, complete, effect”); see effect as a verb. Displaced Old English fremming, fremednes from fremman. Of the verb: from Middle English effecten, partly from Medieval Latin effectuō, from Latin effectus, perfect passive participle of efficiō (“accomplish, complete, do, effect”), from ex (“out”) + faciō (“do, make”) (see fact and compare affect, infect) and partly from the noun effect.

This word in other languages

efecto(Español)effet(Français)Auswirkung(Deutsch)efeito(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: efect,efefct,effcet,effecct,effectt,effetc,fefect

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

efect1efefct2effcet2effecct1effectt1effetc2fefect2
Edit distance from "effect"

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 "effect"?
"effect" is spelled E-F-F-E-C-T. The IPA pronunciation is /ɪˈfɛkt/.
What does "effect" mean?
As a noun, "effect" means: The result or outcome of a cause.
What words are commonly confused with "effect"?
"effect" is commonly confused with "elect", "erect", "eject". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "effect"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "effect" is /ɪˈfɛkt/. 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 "effect"?
Of the noun: from Middle English effect, from Old French effect (modern French effet), from Latin effectus (“an effect, tendency, purpose”), from efficiō (“accomplish, complete, effect”); see effect as a verb. Displaced Old English fremming, freme... 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 “effect”

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

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