figure

/ˈfɪɡə/

//ˈfɪɡə// noun

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

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

The verdict

“figure” is in the everyday core of English, ranked #904 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#904
frequency rank, English
6
letters
8
tracked misspellings
11
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A drawing or diagram conveying information.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

figure vs fire
67% similar
figure vs fugue
67% similar
figure vs future
67% similar

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

Key facts for figure
PropertyValue
Headwordfigure
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈfɪɡə/
Letters6
Frequency rank#904
Misspellings tracked8
Confusable pairs11
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “figure” 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). figure 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 figure is 6 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈfɪɡə/. Corpus data places it at rank #904 in overall English word frequency, putting it firmly in the everyday core of the language. Wiktionary records 16 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 8 likely wrong-spelling variants for figure, with forms such as "ffigure", "fgiure", and "figgure". 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 11 confusable-pair relationships, "fire", "fugue", "future", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English figure, borrowed from Old French figure, from Latin figūra (“form, shape, form of a word, a figure of speech, Late Latin a sketch, drawing”), from fingō (“to form, shape, mold, fashion”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰeyǵʰ- (“to mold, shap… The correct English form is figure, spelled F-I-G-U-R-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    A drawing or diagram conveying information.
  2. 2
    The representation of any form, as by drawing, painting, modelling, carving, embroidering, etc.; especially, a representation of the human body.
  3. 3
    A person or thing representing a certain consciousness.
  4. 4
    The appearance or impression made by the conduct or career of a person.
  5. 5
    Distinguished appearance; magnificence; conspicuous representation; splendour; show.
  6. 6
    A human figure, which dress or corset must fit to; the shape of a human body.
  7. 7
    A numeral.
  8. 8
    A number, an amount.
  9. 9
    A shape.
  10. 10
    A visible pattern as in wood or cloth.
  11. 11
    Any complex dance moveᵂ.
  12. 12
    A figure of speech.
  13. 13
    The form of a syllogism with respect to the relative position of the middle term.
  14. 14
    A horoscope; the diagram of the aspects of the astrological houses.
  15. 15
    Any short succession of notes, either as melody or as a group of chords, which produce a single complete and distinct impression.
  16. 16
    A form of melody or accompaniment kept up through a strain or passage; a motif; a florid embellishment.

Etymology

From Middle English figure, borrowed from Old French figure, from Latin figūra (“form, shape, form of a word, a figure of speech, Late Latin a sketch, drawing”), from fingō (“to form, shape, mold, fashion”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰeyǵʰ- (“to mold, shape, form, knead”). Cognate with Ancient Greek τεῖχος (teîkhos), Sanskrit देग्धि (dégdhi), Old English dāg (“dough”). More at dough. Doublet of figura.

This word in other languages

figura(Español)figure(Français)Abbildung(Deutsch)figura(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ffigure,fgiure,figgure,figrue,figuer,figurre,fiugre,ifgure

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of figure - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

ffigure1fgiure2figgure1figrue2figuer2figurre1fiugre2ifgure2
Edit distance from "figure"

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 "figure"?
"figure" is spelled F-I-G-U-R-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈfɪɡə/.
What does "figure" mean?
As a noun, "figure" means: A drawing or diagram conveying information.
What words are commonly confused with "figure"?
"figure" is commonly confused with "fire", "fugue", "future". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "figure"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "figure" is /ˈfɪɡə/. 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 "figure"?
From Middle English figure, borrowed from Old French figure, from Latin figūra (“form, shape, form of a word, a figure of speech, Late Latin a sketch, drawing”), from fingō (“to form, shape, mold, fashion”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰeyǵʰ- (“to ... 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 “figure”

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

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