encumber
/ɪnˈkʌmbə(ɹ)/
"encumber" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“encumber” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a verb. The kind of spelling people second-guess.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 8
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - To load down something with a burden.
Corpus desk
Index EN-encumber · encumber · English
encumber · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables
- FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
- LEN-LONG 8 letters
- VOW-3 3 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.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | encumber |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Verb |
| IPA | /ɪnˈkʌmbə(ɹ)/ |
| Letters | 8 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Long-tail rank of “encumber” in English
Rare enough to double-check
encumber is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as averb, transcribed /ɪnˈkʌmbə(ɹ)/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 3 senses are on record.
Our edit-distance generator produced no likely misspellings for encumber, since its letter pattern doesn't lend itself to common typo substitutions. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, which tends to mean the word is visually distinctive enough to stand on its own.
Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English encombren, from Old French encombrer, from en- + combrer (“to hinder”); see cumber. By surface analysis, en- + cumber. The correct English form is encumber, spelled E-N-C-U-M-B-E-R.
Definition
- 1To load down something with a burden.
- 2To restrict or block something with a hindrance or impediment.
- 3To burden with a legal claim or other obligation.
Recorded use
Wiktionary examplesThese source excerpts show how encumber appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.
In the reverse direction, creature comforts were not closely studied, and the vessel left Antwerp at 1 p.m., to arrive in Harwich at the awkward hour of 2 a.m. The boat train was waiting for the weary stream of passengers, who straggled up George Street, encumbered with luggage, or following burdened porters in the darkness.
He [Timothy Forsyte] had never committed the imprudence of marrying or encumbering himself in any way with children.
Etymology
From Middle English encombren, from Old French encombrer, from en- + combrer (“to hinder”); see cumber. By surface analysis, en- + cumber.
Antonyms
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.