error

/ˈɛɹə/

//ˈɛɹə// noun

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

"error" is a 5-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“error” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #2,731 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#2,731
frequency rank, English
5
letters
5
tracked misspellings
9
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The state, quality, or condition of being wrong.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

error vs euro
60% similar
error vs errors
83% similar
error vs err
60% similar

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

Key facts for error
PropertyValue
Headworderror
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈɛɹə/
Letters5
Frequency rank#2,731
Misspellings tracked5
Confusable pairs9
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “error” 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). error 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 error is 5 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈɛɹə/. Corpus data places it at rank #2,731 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 9 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 5 likely wrong-spelling variants for error, with forms such as "eror", "erorr", and "errorr". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 9 confusable-pair relationships, "euro", "errors", "err", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English errour, from Anglo-Norman errour, borrowed from Old French error, from Latin error (“wandering about”, noun), derived from the verb errō (“to wander, to err”). Cognate with Gothic 𐌰𐌹𐍂𐌶𐌴𐌹 (airzei, “error”), Gothic 𐌰𐌹𐍂𐌶𐌾𐌰𐌽 (ai… The correct English form is error, spelled E-R-R-O-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    The state, quality, or condition of being wrong.
  2. 2
    A mistake; an accidental wrong action or a false statement not made deliberately.
  3. 3
    Sin; transgression.
  4. 4
    A failure to complete a task, usually involving a premature termination.
  5. 5
    The difference between a measured or calculated value and a true one.
  6. 6
    A play which is scored as having been made incorrectly.
  7. 7
    One or more mistakes in a trial that could be grounds for review of the judgement.
  8. 8
    Any alteration in the DNA chemical structure occurring during DNA replication, recombination or repairing.
  9. 9
    An unintentional deviation from the inherent rules of a language variety made by a second language learner.

Etymology

From Middle English errour, from Anglo-Norman errour, borrowed from Old French error, from Latin error (“wandering about”, noun), derived from the verb errō (“to wander, to err”). Cognate with Gothic 𐌰𐌹𐍂𐌶𐌴𐌹 (airzei, “error”), Gothic 𐌰𐌹𐍂𐌶𐌾𐌰𐌽 (airzjan, “to lead astray”). More at err. By surface analysis, err + -or (suffix forming nouns of quality, state, or condition).

Synonyms

aberrationbarbarismbloomerblooperblunderbonerboo-boobreakclangercock-uperrorfaultfaux pasfloaterflubflufffuckupgaffegoofhowlerinaccuracylapselapsusmess-upmisstepmistakeoopsyscrewupslipslip-upslipupstumblethinkowrengthsolecismerroneity

This word in other languages

error(Español)erreur(Français)Fehler(Deutsch)erro(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: eror,erorr,errorr,errro,reror

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of error - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

eror1erorr2errorr1errro2reror2
Edit distance from "error"

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 "error"?
"error" is spelled E-R-R-O-R. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈɛɹə/.
What does "error" mean?
As a noun, "error" means: The state, quality, or condition of being wrong.
What words are commonly confused with "error"?
"error" is commonly confused with "euro", "errors", "err". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "error"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "error" is /ˈɛɹə/. 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 "error"?
From Middle English errour, from Anglo-Norman errour, borrowed from Old French error, from Latin error (“wandering about”, noun), derived from the verb errō (“to wander, to err”). Cognate with Gothic 𐌰𐌹𐍂𐌶𐌴𐌹 (airzei, “error”), Gothic 𐌰𐌹𐍂𐌶... 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 “error”

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

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