frequency

/ˈfɹiːkwənsi/

//ˈfɹiːkwənsi// noun

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

"frequency" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“frequency” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #3,881 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#3,881
frequency rank, English
9
letters
14
tracked misspellings
2
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The rate of occurrence of anything; the relationship between incidence and time period.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

frequency vs frequent
78% similar
frequency vs frequently
80% similar

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

Key facts for frequency
PropertyValue
Headwordfrequency
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈfɹiːkwənsi/
Letters9
Frequency rank#3,881
Misspellings tracked14
Confusable pairs2
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “frequency” 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). frequency 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 frequency is 9 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈfɹiːkwənsi/. Corpus data places it at rank #3,881 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 6 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 frequency, with forms such as "ferquency", "ffrequency", and "freqeuncy". 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 2 confusable-pair relationships, "frequent", "frequently", where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Latin frequentia, from frequens. By surface analysis, frequent + -cy. The correct English form is frequency, spelled F-R-E-Q-U-E-N-C-Y.

Definition

  1. 1
    The rate of occurrence of anything; the relationship between incidence and time period.
  2. 2
    The property of occurring often rather than infrequently.
  3. 3
    The quotient of the number of times n a periodic phenomenon occurs over the time t in which it occurs: f=n/t.
  4. 4
    A tone, character, mood, or vibe
  5. 5
    number of times an event occurred in an experiment (absolute frequency)
  6. 6
    range of electromagnetic waves used for wireless communication in devices like radios, TVs and mobile phones

Etymology

From Latin frequentia, from frequens. By surface analysis, frequent + -cy.

Synonyms

oftennesscommonness and Thesaurus:frequencyfreqfrequency

Antonyms

period

This word in other languages

frecuencia(Español)fréquence(Français)Häufigkeit(Deutsch)frequência(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ferquency,ffrequency,freqeuncy,freqquency,frequecny,frequenccy,frequencyy,frequenncy,frequenyc,frequnecy,freuqency,frqeuency,frrequency,rfequency

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

ferquency2ffrequency1freqeuncy2freqquency1frequecny2frequenccy1frequencyy1frequenncy1
Edit distance from "frequency"

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 "frequency"?
"frequency" is spelled F-R-E-Q-U-E-N-C-Y. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈfɹiːkwənsi/.
What does "frequency" mean?
As a noun, "frequency" means: The rate of occurrence of anything; the relationship between incidence and time period.
What words are commonly confused with "frequency"?
"frequency" is commonly confused with "frequent", "frequently". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "frequency"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "frequency" is /ˈfɹiːkwənsi/. 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 "frequency"?
From Latin frequentia, from frequens. By surface analysis, frequent + -cy. 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 “frequency”

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

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