exemplify
/ɛɡˈzɛmplɪfaɪ/
"exemplify" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“exemplify” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #40,237 in English word frequency and used as a verb.
- #40,237
- frequency rank, English
- 9
- letters
- 14
- tracked misspellings
- 1
- confusable pair
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To show or illustrate by example.
Visual similarity to commonly confused words
How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).
Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | exemplify |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Verb |
| IPA | /ɛɡˈzɛmplɪfaɪ/ |
| Letters | 9 |
| Frequency rank | #40,237 |
| Misspellings tracked | 14 |
| Confusable pairs | 1 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “exemplify” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for exemplify is 9 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɛɡˈzɛmplɪfaɪ/. Corpus data places it at rank #40,237 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 4 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.
Our generated misspelling index lists 14 likely wrong-spelling variants for exemplify, with forms such as "eexmplify", "exemlpify", and "exemmplify". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. It also participates in 1 confusable-pair relationship, "exemplary", since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.
Etymologically, the entry records: From Medieval Latin exemplificare, from Latin exemplum (“example”). The correct English form is exemplify, spelled E-X-E-M-P-L-I-F-Y.
Definition
- 1To show or illustrate by example.
- 2To be an instance of or serve as an example.
- 3To make an attested copy or transcript of (a document) under seal.
- 4To prove by such an attested copy or transcript.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin exemplificare, from Latin exemplum (“example”).
This word in other languages
Common misspellings
Also misspelled as: eexmplify,exemlpify,exemmplify,exempilfy,exemplfiy,exempliffy,exemplifyy,exempliyf,exempllify,exempplify,exepmlify,exmeplify,exxemplify,xeemplify
Misspelling Pattern Breakdown
How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of exemplify - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.
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 "exemplify"?
What does "exemplify" mean?
What words are commonly confused with "exemplify"?
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What is the origin of the word "exemplify"?
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Using “exemplify”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is E-X-E-M-P-L-I-F-Y - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /ɛɡˈzɛmplɪfaɪ/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
- Don't mix it up with “exemplary” - see the side-by-side comparison. exemplify vs exemplary
- 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.