escapement

/ɪˈskeɪpmənt/

//ɪˈskeɪpmənt// noun

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

"escapement" is a 10-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“escapement” is uncommon English (frequency #74,077 among 18,836 “E” headwords), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#74,077
frequency rank, English
18,836
“E” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The linkage in a (watch) that gives impulses to the timekeeping element and periodically releases the gear train to move forward, advancing the clock's hands.

Key facts for escapement
PropertyValue
Headwordescapement
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ɪˈskeɪpmənt/
Letters10
Frequency rank#74,077
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “escapement” 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). escapement lands here:

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

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

escapement is uncommon English at frequency #74,077 among 18,836 “E” headwords, classed as anoun, transcribed /ɪˈskeɪpmənt/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 4 senses are on record.

No generated misspelling entries exist for escapement in our index, which points to an orthography that plays by predictable English rules. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, a sign it's visually distinctive enough not to be mixed up with another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: From escape + -ment. The watch component is so called because it allows a tooth to escape from a pallet at each vibration. The correct English form is escapement, spelled E-S-C-A-P-E-M-E-N-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    The linkage in a (watch) that gives impulses to the timekeeping element and periodically releases the gear train to move forward, advancing the clock's hands.
  2. 2
    A mechanism found in devices such as a typewriter or printer which controls lateral motion of the carriage.
  3. 3
    An escape or a means of escape.
  4. 4
    The number of fish that escape commercial fishing operations and travel upstream to spawn.

Etymology

From escape + -ment. The watch component is so called because it allows a tooth to escape from a pallet at each vibration.

This word in other languages

échappement(Français)Hemmung(Deutsch)

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 "escapement"?
"escapement" is spelled E-S-C-A-P-E-M-E-N-T. The IPA pronunciation is /ɪˈskeɪpmənt/.
What does "escapement" mean?
As a noun, "escapement" means: The linkage in a (watch) that gives impulses to the timekeeping element and periodically releases the gear train to move forward, advancing the clock's hands.
How do you pronounce "escapement"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "escapement" is /ɪˈskeɪpmənt/. 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 "escapement"?
From escape + -ment. The watch component is so called because it allows a tooth to escape from a pallet at each vibration. 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 “escapement”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is E-S-C-A-P-E-M-E-N-T - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ɪˈskeɪpmənt/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Other uncommon English words near this rank

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