figurative

/ˈfɪɡəɹətɪv/

//ˈfɪɡəɹətɪv// adj

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

"figurative" is a 10-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“figurative” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #24,753 in English word frequency and used as an adjective.

#24,753
frequency rank, English
10
letters
14
tracked misspellings
1
confusable pair

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Of use as a metaphor, simile, metonym or other figure of speech, as opposed to literal; using figures.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

figurative vs figuratively
83% similar

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

Key facts for figurative
PropertyValue
Headwordfigurative
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˈfɪɡəɹətɪv/
Letters10
Frequency rank#24,753
Misspellings tracked14
Confusable pairs1
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “figurative” 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). figurative 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 figurative is 10 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈfɪɡəɹətɪv/. Corpus data places it at rank #24,753 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 5 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 figurative, with forms such as "ffigurative", "fgiurative", and "figgurative". 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, "figuratively", where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle French figuratif. The correct English form is figurative, spelled F-I-G-U-R-A-T-I-V-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    Of use as a metaphor, simile, metonym or other figure of speech, as opposed to literal; using figures.
  2. 2
    Metaphorically so called.
  3. 3
    With many figures of speech.
  4. 4
    Emblematic, symbolic; representative, exemplative
  5. 5
    Representing forms recognisable in life and clearly derived from real object sources, in contrast to abstract art.

Etymology

From Middle French figuratif.

Antonyms

literal

This word in other languages

figurado(Español)figuratif(Français)bildlich(Deutsch)figurativo(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ffigurative,fgiurative,figgurative,figruative,figuartive,figuraitve,figuratiev,figurativve,figurattive,figuratvie,figurrative,figurtaive,fiugrative,ifgurative

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of figurative - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

ffigurative1fgiurative2figgurative1figruative2figuartive2figuraitve2figuratiev2figurativve1
Edit distance from "figurative"

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 "figurative"?
"figurative" is spelled F-I-G-U-R-A-T-I-V-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈfɪɡəɹətɪv/.
What does "figurative" mean?
As an adjective, "figurative" means: Of use as a metaphor, simile, metonym or other figure of speech, as opposed to literal; using figures.
What words are commonly confused with "figurative"?
"figurative" is commonly confused with "figuratively". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "figurative"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "figurative" is /ˈfɪɡəɹətɪv/. 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 "figurative"?
From Middle French figuratif. 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 “figurative”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is F-I-G-U-R-A-T-I-V-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈfɪɡəɹətɪv/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “figuratively” - see the side-by-side comparison. figurative vs figuratively
  • 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