embrasure

/ɪmˈbɹeɪʒə(ɹ)/

//ɪmˈbɹeɪʒə(ɹ)// noun

"embrasure" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“embrasure” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
9
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - Any of the indentations between the merlons of a battlement; an opening in a wall or parapet through which ordnance can be fired.

Corpus desk

Index EN-embrasure · embrasure · English

embrasure · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
  • LEN-LONG 9 letters
  • VOW-4 4 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-THIN "E" thin
  • PHOTO-UNK Peer pending

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Key facts for embrasure
PropertyValue
Headwordembrasure
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ɪmˈbɹeɪʒə(ɹ)/
Letters9
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “embrasure” in English

embrasurefalls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

embrasure is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as anoun, transcribed /ɪmˈbɹeɪʒə(ɹ)/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 4 senses are on record.

No generated misspelling entries exist for embrasure in our index, a straightforward case of a spelling with little room for common typos. Our dataset records no confusable match here, which tends to mean the word is visually distinctive enough to stand on its own.

Etymologically, the entry records: From French embrasure, from embras(er) + -ure, from Old French embrasure (“cut at a slant, make a groove or furrow”), from em- + braser (“cut at a slant”). The correct English form is embrasure, spelled E-M-B-R-A-S-U-R-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    Any of the indentations between the merlons of a battlement; an opening in a wall or parapet through which ordnance can be fired.
  2. 2
    Any small protected space.
  3. 3
    The slanting indentation in a wall for a door or window, such that the space is larger on the inside than the outside.
  4. 4
    An embrace.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how embrasure appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. Near-synonym: crenel (sometimes hyponymous technically)
  2. But there were less casualties than might have been expected, and the barricade rose steadily, a wall of concrete two feet thick, with embrasures for two machine-guns and a small field gun.

Etymology

From French embrasure, from embras(er) + -ure, from Old French embrasure (“cut at a slant, make a groove or furrow”), from em- + braser (“cut at a slant”).

This word in other languages

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "embrasure"?
"embrasure" is spelled E-M-B-R-A-S-U-R-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ɪmˈbɹeɪʒə(ɹ)/.
What does "embrasure" mean?
As a noun, "embrasure" means: Any of the indentations between the merlons of a battlement; an opening in a wall or parapet through which ordnance can be fired.
How do you pronounce "embrasure"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "embrasure" is /ɪmˈbɹeɪʒə(ɹ)/. 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 "embrasure"?
From French embrasure, from embras(er) + -ure, from Old French embrasure (“cut at a slant, make a groove or furrow”), from em- + braser (“cut at a slant”). 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.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list