exclamation mark

/ˌɛks.kləˈmeɪ.ʃn̩ ˌmɑːk/

//ˌɛks.kləˈmeɪ.ʃn̩ ˌmɑːk// noun

"exclamation-mark" is a 15-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“exclamation mark” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a noun - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
16
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The punctuation mark “!” (generally used to denote excitement, surprise or shock).

Key facts for exclamation mark
PropertyValue
Headwordexclamation mark
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˌɛks.kləˈmeɪ.ʃn̩ ˌmɑːk/
Letters16
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “exclamation mark” sits in English frequency

exclamation mark falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for exclamation mark is 16 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˌɛks.kləˈmeɪ.ʃn̩ ˌmɑːk/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. The dominant gloss from Wiktionary reads: "The punctuation mark “!” (generally used to denote excitement, surprise or shock).".

No misspelling variants are generated for exclamation mark in our index, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

Our source data has no etymology on file for this entry, so its spelling is best explained by sound-to-letter mapping rather than etymology. The correct English form is exclamation mark, spelled E-X-C-L-A-M-A-T-I-O-N- -M-A-R-K.

Definition

  1. 1
    The punctuation mark “!” (generally used to denote excitement, surprise or shock).

Synonyms

exclamationexclamation pointshriekbangecphonememark of admirationnote of admirationnote of exclamationnote of interjectionplingastonisherscreamerinterjection pointmark of exclamation

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "exclamation mark"?
"exclamation mark" is spelled E-X-C-L-A-M-A-T-I-O-N- -M-A-R-K. The IPA pronunciation is /ˌɛks.kləˈmeɪ.ʃn̩ ˌmɑːk/.
What does "exclamation mark" mean?
As a noun, "exclamation mark" means: The punctuation mark “!” (generally used to denote excitement, surprise or shock).
How do you pronounce "exclamation mark"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "exclamation mark" is /ˌɛks.kləˈmeɪ.ʃn̩ ˌmɑːk/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "exclamation mark" come from?
"exclamation mark" is a English word. PlainSpell's reference spans five languages -- English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German -- with definitions, pronunciations, and spelling data for each.
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 “exclamation mark”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is E-X-C-L-A-M-A-T-I-O-N- -M-A-R-K - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˌɛks.kləˈmeɪ.ʃn̩ ˌmɑːk/ (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
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