fascinate

/ˈfæsɪneɪt/

//ˈfæsɪneɪt// verb

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

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

The verdict

“fascinate” is an uncommon English word, ranked #52,311 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#52,311
frequency rank, English
9
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To evoke an intense interest or attraction in someone.

Key facts for fascinate
PropertyValue
Headwordfascinate
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ˈfæsɪneɪt/
Letters9
Frequency rank#52,311
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “fascinate” 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). fascinate 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 fascinate is 9 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈfæsɪneɪt/. Corpus data places it at rank #52,311 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 generated misspelling entries exist for fascinate in our index, suggesting the orthography follows predictable English patterns. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from Latin fascinātus, perfect passive participle of fascinō (“to enchant, bewitch, fascinate”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from fascinum (“a phallus-shaped amulet worn around the neck in Ancient Rome; witchcraft”) + -ō (verb-forming suffix),… The correct English form is fascinate, spelled F-A-S-C-I-N-A-T-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To evoke an intense interest or attraction in someone.
  2. 2
    To make someone hold motionless; to spellbind.
  3. 3
    To be irresistibly charming or attractive to.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin fascinātus, perfect passive participle of fascinō (“to enchant, bewitch, fascinate”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from fascinum (“a phallus-shaped amulet worn around the neck in Ancient Rome; witchcraft”) + -ō (verb-forming suffix), itself of obscure origin.

This word in other languages

fascinar(Español)fasciner(Français)faszinieren(Deutsch)fascinar(Português)

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 "fascinate"?
"fascinate" is spelled F-A-S-C-I-N-A-T-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈfæsɪneɪt/.
What does "fascinate" mean?
As a verb, "fascinate" means: To evoke an intense interest or attraction in someone.
How do you pronounce "fascinate"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "fascinate" is /ˈfæsɪneɪt/. 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 "fascinate"?
Borrowed from Latin fascinātus, perfect passive participle of fascinō (“to enchant, bewitch, fascinate”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from fascinum (“a phallus-shaped amulet worn around the neck in Ancient Rome; witchcraft”) + -ō (verb-formin... 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 “fascinate”

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

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