forbidden fruit
/fə.ˈbɪ.dn̩ fɹuːt/
"forbidden-fruit" is a 14-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“forbidden fruit” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a noun - the kind of word writers most often double-check.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 15
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The fruit forbidden to Adam.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | forbidden fruit |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Noun |
| IPA | /fə.ˈbɪ.dn̩ fɹuːt/ |
| Letters | 15 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “forbidden fruit” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for forbidden fruit is 15 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /fə.ˈbɪ.dn̩ fɹuːt/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 4 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.
Zero misspellings are on record for forbidden fruit in our index, a sign its spelling follows regular English conventions. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.
Etymologically, the entry records: With reference to Genesis 2:17: ‘But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.’ (KJV) The correct English form is forbidden fruit, spelled F-O-R-B-I-D-D-E-N- -F-R-U-I-T.
Definition
- 1The fruit forbidden to Adam.
- 2Illicit pleasure.
- 3Something desired that cannot be had.
- 4A small variety of shaddock (Citrus maxima), or sometimes other citrus fruits.
Etymology
With reference to Genesis 2:17: ‘But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.’ (KJV)
This word in other languages
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Using “forbidden fruit”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is F-O-R-B-I-D-D-E-N- -F-R-U-I-T - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /fə.ˈbɪ.dn̩ fɹuːt/ (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.