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extract

Definition, pronunciation, etymology, and usage for the English word. Free spelling reference powered by Wiktionary.

Letters

7 characters

Language

English

word origin

Source

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Detailed reference entry for the English word "extract", 7-letters, with pronunciation in International Phonetic Alphabet notation, etymology traced through Germanic and Romance roots where applicable, common misspelling variants catalogued from Hunspell error dictionaries, and usage frequency ranked against the top 100,000 English words in the Wordfreq corpus. PlainSpell covers English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German spelling with confusable-pair detection that highlights visually and phonetically similar words. This entry for "extract" includes synonyms, antonyms, homophones, and cross-language translation pointers sourced from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org extract. Whether you are verifying the correct spelling of "extract" for academic writing, checking homophone confusion, or exploring etymological origins, this page provides a citation-backed, free reference that requires no sign-up.

extract is aEnglishnoun. It means: Something that is extracted or drawn out. Pronounced /ˈɛkstɹækt/. It ranks #6,902 in English word frequency. Often confused with extras and extracted.

Key facts for extract
PropertyValue
Headwordextract
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈɛkstɹækt/
Letters7
Frequency rank#6,902
Misspellings tracked11
Confusable pairs7
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency rank visualization

Position of extract in English word frequency (lower rank = more common)

Source: Wordfreq corpus

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for extract is 7 letters long, classified as anoun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈɛkstɹækt/. Corpus data places it at rank #6,902 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text.Wiktionary records 8 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our Hunspell-derived misspelling index lists 11 documented wrong-spelling variants for extract, with forms such as "etxract", "exrtact", and "extarct". Each variant represents a distinct typo pattern that appears often enough in corpora to be worth flagging, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution.It also participates in 7 confusable-pair relationships, "extras", "extracted", "extractor", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from Latin extractum, neuter perfect passive participle of extrahō, from ex- (“out of”) + trahō (“to drag”). Root origin matters for spelling because borrowed morphemes (Greek, Latin, Old French, Old English) carry their source-language orthographic conventions into modern English, which is why historical etymology is often the cleanest predictor of whether a cluster like "-ough", "-eau", or "-tion" will appear. For readers arriving here from a spelling check, the authoritative guidance is: the correct English form is extract, spelled E-X-T-R-A-C-T, and any other sequence of those letters, regardless of how natural it feels, is a misspelling in standard orthography.

Definition

  1. 1
    Something that is extracted or drawn out.
  2. 2
    A portion of a book, document, recording etc. incorporated distinctly in another work (for written or spoken words, synoymous to a citation; a quotation).
  3. 3
    A decoction, solution, or infusion made by drawing out from any substance that which gives it its essential and characteristic virtue
  4. 4
    Any substance extracted is such a way, and characteristic of that from which it is obtained
  5. 5
    A solid preparation obtained by evaporating a solution of a drug, etc., or the fresh juice of a plant (distinguished from an abstract).
  6. 6
    A peculiar principle (fundamental essence) once erroneously supposed to form the basis of all vegetable extracts.
  7. 7
    Ancestry; descent.
  8. 8
    A draft or copy of writing; a certified copy of the proceedings in an action and the judgment therein, with an order for execution.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin extractum, neuter perfect passive participle of extrahō, from ex- (“out of”) + trahō (“to drag”).

Synonyms

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: etxract,exrtact,extarct,extracct,extractt,extratc,extrcat,extrract,exttract,exxtract,xetract

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

Relative frequency of common misspelling types for extract

Misspelling Variants of "extract"

etxract7exrtact7extarct7extracct8extractt8extratc7extrcat7extrract8
Misspelling Variants of "extract"

Frequency rank: #6,902 in English

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "extract"?
"extract" is spelled E-X-T-R-A-C-T. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈɛkstɹækt/.
What does "extract" mean?
As a noun, "extract" means: Something that is extracted or drawn out.
What words are commonly confused with "extract"?
"extract" is commonly confused with "extras", "extracted", "extractor". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "extract"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "extract" is /ˈɛkstɹækt/. 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 "extract"?
Borrowed from Latin extractum, neuter perfect passive participle of extrahō, from ex- (“out of”) + trahō (“to drag”). 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.

Nearby English words

Other entries that begin with the letter E in our English index:

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Data Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Frequency data from Wordfreq. Misspellings derived from Hunspell dictionaries.