extensive

/ɪkˈstɛn.sɪv/

//ɪkˈstɛn.sɪv// adj

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

"extensive" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“extensive” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #3,056 in English word frequency and used as an adjective.

#3,056
frequency rank, English
9
letters
13
tracked misspellings
6
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Having a great extent; covering a large area; vast.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

extensive vs extensively
82% similar
extensive vs expensive
89% similar
extensive vs extension
78% similar

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

Key facts for extensive
PropertyValue
Headwordextensive
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ɪkˈstɛn.sɪv/
Letters9
Frequency rank#3,056
Misspellings tracked13
Confusable pairs6
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “extensive” 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). extensive 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 extensive is 9 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɪkˈstɛn.sɪv/. Corpus data places it at rank #3,056 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 4 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 13 likely wrong-spelling variants for extensive, with forms such as "etxensive", "exetnsive", and "extenisve". 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 6 confusable-pair relationships, "extensively", "expensive", "extension", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From late Middle English, borrowed from Late Latin extensīvus, from Latin extensus. The correct English form is extensive, spelled E-X-T-E-N-S-I-V-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    Having a great extent; covering a large area; vast.
  2. 2
    Considerable in amount.
  3. 3
    Serving to extend or lengthen; characterized by extension.
  4. 4
    Having a combined system entropy that equals the sum of the entropies of the independent systems.

Etymology

From late Middle English, borrowed from Late Latin extensīvus, from Latin extensus.

This word in other languages

extenso(Español)étendu(Français)umfangreich(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: etxensive,exetnsive,extenisve,extennsive,extensiev,extensivve,extenssive,extensvie,extesnive,extnesive,exttensive,exxtensive,xetensive

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of extensive - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

etxensive2exetnsive2extenisve2extennsive1extensiev2extensivve1extenssive1extensvie2
Edit distance from "extensive"

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 "extensive"?
"extensive" is spelled E-X-T-E-N-S-I-V-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ɪkˈstɛn.sɪv/.
What does "extensive" mean?
As an adjective, "extensive" means: Having a great extent; covering a large area; vast.
What words are commonly confused with "extensive"?
"extensive" is commonly confused with "extensively", "expensive", "extension". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "extensive"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "extensive" is /ɪkˈstɛn.sɪv/. 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 "extensive"?
From late Middle English, borrowed from Late Latin extensīvus, from Latin extensus. 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 “extensive”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is E-X-T-E-N-S-I-V-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ɪkˈstɛn.sɪv/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “extensively” - see the side-by-side comparison. extensive vs extensively
  • 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