gold rush

/ˈɡəʊldˌɹʌʃ/

//ˈɡəʊldˌɹʌʃ// noun

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

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

The verdict

“gold rush” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
9
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Any period of feverish migration into an area in which gold has been discovered.

Key facts for gold rush
PropertyValue
Headwordgold rush
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈɡəʊldˌɹʌʃ/
Letters9
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “gold rush” sits in English frequency

gold rush falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

gold rush is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈɡəʊldˌɹʌʃ/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 4 senses are on record.

No misspelling variants are generated for gold rush in our index, which points to an orthography that plays by predictable English rules. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, which tends to mean the word is visually distinctive enough to stand on its own.

Etymologically, the entry records: From gold + rush. First use appears c. 1848 in the Oregon Spectator. The correct English form is gold rush, spelled G-O-L-D- -R-U-S-H.

Definition

  1. 1
    Any period of feverish migration into an area in which gold has been discovered.
  2. 2
    A feverish obsession with seeking profits, especially in new markets.
  3. 3
    A cocktail made from bourbon, honey, and lemon juice.
  4. 4
    The urge to win gold medals, as in the Olympic Games.

Etymology

From gold + rush. First use appears c. 1848 in the Oregon Spectator.

This word in other languages

Goldrausch(Deutsch)

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

How do you spell "gold rush"?
"gold rush" is spelled G-O-L-D- -R-U-S-H. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈɡəʊldˌɹʌʃ/.
What does "gold rush" mean?
As a noun, "gold rush" means: Any period of feverish migration into an area in which gold has been discovered.
How do you pronounce "gold rush"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "gold rush" is /ˈɡəʊldˌɹʌʃ/. 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 "gold rush"?
From gold + rush. First use appears c. 1848 in the Oregon Spectator. 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 “gold rush”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is G-O-L-D- -R-U-S-H - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈɡəʊldˌɹʌʃ/ (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