fritter

/ˈfɹɪtə(ɹ)/

//ˈfɹɪtə(ɹ)// noun

"fritter" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“fritter” is an uncommon English word, ranked #69,869 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#69,869
frequency rank, English
7
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A dish made by deep-frying food coated in batter.

Key facts for fritter
PropertyValue
Headwordfritter
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈfɹɪtə(ɹ)/
Letters7
Frequency rank#69,869
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “fritter” 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). fritter 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 fritter is 7 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈfɹɪtə(ɹ)/. Corpus data places it at rank #69,869 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.

We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for fritter, since its letter pattern doesn't lend itself to common typo substitutions. 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: Inherited from Middle English fryture, from Middle French friture, from Old French friture, from Vulgar Latin *frīctūra, from Latin frīgō (“to fry”); compare fry. For the development of Middle English /iu̯r(ə)/ into /ə(ɹ)/, compare armour, batter, border, s… The correct English form is fritter, spelled F-R-I-T-T-E-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    A dish made by deep-frying food coated in batter.
  2. 2
    A fragment; a shred; a small piece.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English fryture, from Middle French friture, from Old French friture, from Vulgar Latin *frīctūra, from Latin frīgō (“to fry”); compare fry. For the development of Middle English /iu̯r(ə)/ into /ə(ɹ)/, compare armour, batter, border, solder.

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); 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 "fritter"?
"fritter" is spelled F-R-I-T-T-E-R. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈfɹɪtə(ɹ)/.
What does "fritter" mean?
As a noun, "fritter" means: A dish made by deep-frying food coated in batter.
How do you pronounce "fritter"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "fritter" is /ˈfɹɪtə(ɹ)/. 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 "fritter"?
Inherited from Middle English fryture, from Middle French friture, from Old French friture, from Vulgar Latin *frīctūra, from Latin frīgō (“to fry”); compare fry. For the development of Middle English /iu̯r(ə)/ into /ə(ɹ)/, compare armour, batter,... 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 “fritter”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is F-R-I-T-T-E-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈfɹɪtə(ɹ)/ (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