filigree

/ˈfɪl.ɪ.ɡɹiː/

//ˈfɪl.ɪ.ɡɹiː// noun

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

"filigree" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“filigree” has 11 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #49,332. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#49,332
frequency rank, English
2,507
“F” headwords
11
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - A delicate and intricate ornamentation made from platinum, gold or silver (or sometimes other metal) twisted wire.

Corpus desk

Index EN-filigree · filigree · English

filigree · rank #49,332 · 11 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-MID #49,332
  • LEN-LONG 8 letters
  • VOW-4 4 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-MID 11 variants
  • BOOK-MID 2,507
  • PHOTO-FINISH Fars

Nearest frequency peer: Fars (-3 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Rank peers near misspelling magnet “filigree”

Same rarity band: useful when a typo lands on a peer headword

corpus weight

What this shows “filigree” sits among these FrequencyWords peers; misspelling depth is tracked separately in the edit-distance chart.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026
Key facts for filigree
PropertyValue
Headwordfiligree
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈfɪl.ɪ.ɡɹiː/
Letters8
Frequency rank#49,332
Misspellings tracked11
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “filigree”

Word frequency stretches from the small set of words we reach for constantly (left) out to the long tail barely used once in a while (right).filigreelands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Ticks step logarithmically, so each one marks a roughly tenfold drop in how often the word turns up. Same rarity band neighbours include “Fars” (#49,329), “fissile” (#49,335), “Farhan” (#49,328). Among 2,507 “F” headwords, “filigree” is #49,332. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 11 spelling variants around filigree (IPA /ˈfɪl.ɪ.ɡɹiː/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #49,332 among 2,507 “F” headwords. Wiktionary lists 2 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 11 likely wrong-spelling variants for filigree, with forms such as "ffiligree", "fiilgree", and "filgiree". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.

Etymologically, the entry records: From French filigrane, from Italian filigrana, from Latin fīlum (“thread”) + grānum (“grain”). The correct English form is filigree, spelled F-I-L-I-G-R-E-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    A delicate and intricate ornamentation made from platinum, gold or silver (or sometimes other metal) twisted wire.
  2. 2
    Anything resembling such intricate ornamentation.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how filigree appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. To carry pure death in an earring, a casket, / A signet, a fan-mount, a filigree basket!
  2. There were antiquities from Central Italy, made by the best modern houses in that department of industry; […] Genoese velvets and filigree, Neapolitan coral, Roman cameos, Geneva jewellery, Arab lanterns, rosaries blest all round by the Pope himself, and an infinite variety of lumber.

Etymology

From French filigrane, from Italian filigrana, from Latin fīlum (“thread”) + grānum (“grain”).

This word in other languages

filigrana(Español)filigrane(Français)Filigran(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • ffiligree
  • fiilgree
  • filgiree
  • filigere
  • filiggree
  • filigre
  • filigrree
  • filirgee
  • filligree
  • fliigree
  • ifligree

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of filigree - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

ffiligree1fiilgree2filgiree2filigere2filiggree1filigre1filigrree1filirgee2
Edit distance from "filigree"

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 "filigree"?
"filigree" is spelled F-I-L-I-G-R-E-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈfɪl.ɪ.ɡɹiː/.
What does "filigree" mean?
As a noun, "filigree" means: A delicate and intricate ornamentation made from platinum, gold or silver (or sometimes other metal) twisted wire.
What are common misspellings of "filigree"?
Common misspellings include "ffiligree", "fiilgree", "filgiree", "filigere", "filiggree". The correct spelling is "filigree".
How do you pronounce "filigree"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "filigree" is /ˈfɪl.ɪ.ɡɹiː/. 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 "filigree"?
From French filigrane, from Italian filigrana, from Latin fīlum (“thread”) + grānum (“grain”). 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.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "filigree", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 8 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

fallible#49,326freefall#49,341frigging#49,342Gabriele#49,347

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (11 here; floor ≥5).

forking11 variantsgeorgette11 variantsdustbin11 variantsgusting11 variants

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list