facies

/ˈfeɪ.ʃi.iːz/

//ˈfeɪ.ʃi.iːz// noun

"facies" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“facies” is an uncommon English word, ranked #56,740 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#56,740
frequency rank, English
6
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - General appearance.

Key facts for facies
PropertyValue
Headwordfacies
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈfeɪ.ʃi.iːz/
Letters6
Frequency rank#56,740
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “facies” 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). facies 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 facies is 6 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈfeɪ.ʃi.iːz/. Corpus data places it at rank #56,740 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

No misspelling variants are generated for facies in our index, since its letter pattern doesn't lend itself to common typo substitutions. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, which typically means the spelling is too distinctive to be mistaken for another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from Latin faciēs (“form, configuration, figure; face, visage, countenance”). Doublet of face. The correct English form is facies, spelled F-A-C-I-E-S.

Definition

  1. 1
    General appearance.
  2. 2
    Facial features, like an expression or complexion, typical for patients having certain diseases or conditions.
  3. 3
    A body of rock with specified characteristics reflecting its formation, composition, age, and fossil content.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin faciēs (“form, configuration, figure; face, visage, countenance”). Doublet of face.

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 "facies"?
"facies" is spelled F-A-C-I-E-S. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈfeɪ.ʃi.iːz/.
What does "facies" mean?
As a noun, "facies" means: General appearance.
How do you pronounce "facies"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "facies" is /ˈfeɪ.ʃi.iːz/. 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 "facies"?
Borrowed from Latin faciēs (“form, configuration, figure; face, visage, countenance”). Doublet of face. 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 “facies”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is F-A-C-I-E-S - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈfeɪ.ʃi.iːz/ (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