ensign

/ˈɛn.sɪn/

//ˈɛn.sɪn// noun

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

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

The verdict

“ensign” has 9 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #20,346. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#20,346
frequency rank, English
2,246
“E” headwords
9
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - A badge of office, rank, or power.

Corpus desk

Index EN-ensign · ensign · English

ensign · rank #20,346 · 9 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-MID #20,346
  • LEN-LONG 6 letters
  • VOW-2 2 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-MID 9 variants
  • BOOK-MID 2,246
  • PHOTO-FINISH encompass

Nearest frequency peer: encompass (-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 “ensign”

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

corpus weight

What this shows “ensign” 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 ensign
PropertyValue
Headwordensign
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈɛn.sɪn/
Letters6
Frequency rank#20,346
Misspellings tracked9
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “ensign”

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).ensignlands here:

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

The axis is logarithmic, with each marked tick roughly ten times rarer than the last. Same rarity band neighbours include “encompass” (#20,345), “emptiness” (#20,344), “evoke” (#20,348). Among 2,246 “E” headwords, “ensign” is #20,346. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 9 spelling variants around ensign (IPA /ˈɛn.sɪn/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #20,346 among 2,246 “E” headwords. Wiktionary lists 6 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 9 likely wrong-spelling variants for ensign, with forms such as "enisgn", "ennsign", and "ensgin". 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. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, which typically means the spelling is too distinctive to be mistaken for another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English ensigne, from Old French enseigne, from Latin īnsignia, nominative plural of īnsigne, meaning marked, distinguished. Doublet of insignia. The correct English form is ensign, spelled E-N-S-I-G-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    A badge of office, rank, or power.
  2. 2
    The lowest grade of commissioned officer in the United States Navy, junior to a lieutenant junior grade.
  3. 3
    A flag or banner carried by military units; a standard or color/colour.
  4. 4
    The principal flag or banner flown by a ship (usually at the stern) to indicate nationality.
  5. 5
    Any prominent flag or banner.
  6. 6
    A junior commissioned officer in the 18th and 19th centuries whose duty was to carry the unit's ensign.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

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

  1. The Ensigns of our Power about we bear; / And every Land pays Tribute to the Fair.
  2. The skipper Mr. Cooke had hired at Far Harbor was a God-fearing man with a luke warm interest in his new billet and employer, and had only been prevailed upon to take charge of the yacht after the offer of an emolument equal to half a year's sea pay of an ensign in the navy.

Etymology

From Middle English ensigne, from Old French enseigne, from Latin īnsignia, nominative plural of īnsigne, meaning marked, distinguished. Doublet of insignia.

Synonyms

badgecoronetsecond lieutenantfirst NATO commissioned officer grade above OF-0 trainee officer

This word in other languages

alférez(Español)aspirant(Français)Fähnrich(Deutsch)alferes(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • enisgn
  • ennsign
  • ensgin
  • ensiggn
  • ensignn
  • ensing
  • enssign
  • esnign
  • nesign

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

enisgn2ennsign1ensgin2ensiggn1ensignn1ensing2enssign1esnign2
Edit distance from "ensign"

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 "ensign"?
"ensign" is spelled E-N-S-I-G-N. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈɛn.sɪn/.
What does "ensign" mean?
As a noun, "ensign" means: A badge of office, rank, or power.
What are common misspellings of "ensign"?
Common misspellings include "enisgn", "ennsign", "ensgin", "ensiggn", "ensignn". The correct spelling is "ensign".
How do you pronounce "ensign"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "ensign" is /ˈɛn.sɪn/. 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 "ensign"?
From Middle English ensigne, from Old French enseigne, from Latin īnsignia, nominative plural of īnsigne, meaning marked, distinguished. Doublet of insignia. 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 "ensign", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 6 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

Dupont#20,342distal#20,337dharma#20,334crotch#20,325

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (9 here; floor ≥5).

flatter9 variantsgrader9 variantshedges9 variantscamped9 variants

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list