fondle

/ˈfɒndəl/

//ˈfɒndəl// verb

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

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

The verdict

“fondle” is an uncommon English word, ranked #51,707 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#51,707
frequency rank, English
6
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To touch or stroke lovingly.

Key facts for fondle
PropertyValue
Headwordfondle
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ˈfɒndəl/
Letters6
Frequency rank#51,707
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “fondle” 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). fondle 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 fondle is 6 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈfɒndəl/. Corpus data places it at rank #51,707 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 2 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

fondle doesn't appear in our generated misspelling index, suggesting the orthography follows predictable English patterns. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, which tends to mean the word is visually distinctive enough to stand on its own.

Etymologically, the entry records: From fond (“love, admire”) + -le (frequentative suffix). The correct English form is fondle, spelled F-O-N-D-L-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To touch or stroke lovingly.
  2. 2
    To grasp.

Etymology

From fond (“love, admire”) + -le (frequentative suffix).

Synonyms

canoodlecaresschucklecoaxcossetdallydandledawtfaddlefeel upfondfondlegrabblegropenantlepetpettleshiftsmuggletiddletouch upworship

This word in other languages

acariciar(Español)caresser(Français)liebkosen(Deutsch)acariciar(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 "fondle"?
"fondle" is spelled F-O-N-D-L-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈfɒndəl/.
What does "fondle" mean?
As a verb, "fondle" means: To touch or stroke lovingly.
How do you pronounce "fondle"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "fondle" is /ˈfɒndəl/. 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 "fondle"?
From fond (“love, admire”) + -le (frequentative suffix). 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 “fondle”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is F-O-N-D-L-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈfɒndəl/ (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