encompass

/ɪnˈkʌmpəs/

//ɪnˈkʌmpəs// verb

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

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

The verdict

“encompass” has 12 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #20,345. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#20,345
frequency rank, English
2,246
“E” headwords
12
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - To form a circle around; to encircle.

Corpus desk

Index EN-encompass · encompass · English

encompass · rank #20,345 · 12 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-MID #20,345
  • LEN-LONG 9 letters
  • VOW-3 3 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-MID 12 variants
  • BOOK-MID 2,246
  • PHOTO-FINISH emptiness

Nearest frequency peer: emptiness (-1 rank slots)

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.

Rank peers near misspelling magnet “encompass”

Same rarity band: useful when a typo lands on a peer headword

corpus weight

What this shows “encompass” sits among these FrequencyWords peers; misspelling depth is tracked separately in the edit-distance chart.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026
Key facts for encompass
PropertyValue
Headwordencompass
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ɪnˈkʌmpəs/
Letters9
Frequency rank#20,345
Misspellings tracked12
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “encompass”

This scale runs from the tiny cluster of words that carry ordinary speech (left) to the long tail of words almost nobody reaches for (right).encompasslands here:

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

Ticks step logarithmically, so each one marks a roughly tenfold drop in how often the word turns up. Same rarity band neighbours include “emptiness” (#20,344), “ensign” (#20,346), “Dupont” (#20,342). Among 2,246 “E” headwords, “encompass” is #20,345. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 12 spelling variants around encompass (IPA /ɪnˈkʌmpəs/), averb. Corpus frequency is #20,345 among 2,246 “E” headwords. Wiktionary lists 4 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 12 likely wrong-spelling variants for encompass, with forms such as "ecnompass", "enccompass", and "encmopass". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, 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 encompassen. By surface analysis, en- + compass. The correct English form is encompass, spelled E-N-C-O-M-P-A-S-S.

Definition

  1. 1
    To form a circle around; to encircle.
  2. 2
    To include within its scope; to circumscribe or go round so as to surround; to enclose; to contain.
  3. 3
    To include completely; to describe fully or comprehensively.
  4. 4
    To go around, especially, to circumnavigate.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

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

  1. his piercing inſtruments of ſight: Whose fiery circles beare encompaſſed A heauen of heauenly bodies in their Spheares:
  2. Those trajectories encompassed absolute social extremes: the kings of France making their solemn entries into Paris through the Ludovician Arch of the Porte [...]

Etymology

From Middle English encompassen. By surface analysis, en- + compass.

This word in other languages

rodear(Español)encercler(Français)umschließen(Deutsch)cercar(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • ecnompass
  • enccompass
  • encmopass
  • encomapss
  • encommpass
  • encompas
  • encomppass
  • encompsas
  • encopmass
  • enncompass
  • enocmpass
  • necompass

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of encompass - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

ecnompass2enccompass1encmopass2encomapss2encommpass1encompas1encomppass1encompsas2
Edit distance from "encompass"

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 "encompass"?
"encompass" is spelled E-N-C-O-M-P-A-S-S. The IPA pronunciation is /ɪnˈkʌmpəs/.
What does "encompass" mean?
As a verb, "encompass" means: To form a circle around; to encircle.
What are common misspellings of "encompass"?
Common misspellings include "ecnompass", "enccompass", "encmopass", "encomapss", "encommpass". The correct spelling is "encompass".
How do you pronounce "encompass"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "encompass" is /ɪnˈkʌmpəs/. 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 "encompass"?
From Middle English encompassen. By surface analysis, en- + compass. 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.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "encompass", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 9 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

emptiness#20,344firepower#20,356Dartmouth#20,329formative#20,361

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (12 here; floor ≥5).

dialysis12 variantsfixation12 variantsharshly12 variantsHezbollah12 variants

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list