guillotine

/ˈɡɪlətiːn/

//ˈɡɪlətiːn// noun

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

"guillotine" is a 10-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“guillotine” has 12 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #28,937. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#28,937
frequency rank, English
18,276
“G” headwords
12
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A machine used for the application of capital punishment by decapitation, consisting of a tall upright frame from which is suspended a heavy diagonal-edged blade which is dropped onto the neck of t...

Key facts for guillotine
PropertyValue
Headwordguillotine
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈɡɪlətiːn/
Letters10
Frequency rank#28,937
Misspellings tracked12
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “guillotine” 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). guillotine lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 12 spelling variants around guillotine (IPA /ˈɡɪlətiːn/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #28,937 among 18,276 “G” headwords. Wiktionary lists 5 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 12 likely wrong-spelling variants for guillotine, with forms such as "gguillotine", "giullotine", and "guilloitne". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from French guillotine, named after the French physician Joseph-Ignace Guillotin (1738–1814), who proposed its use for capital punishment. The correct English form is guillotine, spelled G-U-I-L-L-O-T-I-N-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    A machine used for the application of capital punishment by decapitation, consisting of a tall upright frame from which is suspended a heavy diagonal-edged blade which is dropped onto the neck of the person to be executed; also, execution using this machine.
  2. 2
    A device or machine with a cutting blade.
  3. 3
    A device or machine with a cutting blade.
  4. 4
    A parliamentary procedure for fixing the dates when various stages of discussion of a bill must end, to ensure that the enactment of the bill proceeds expeditiously.
  5. 5
    A legislative motion that debate be ended and a vote taken; a cloture.

Etymology

Borrowed from French guillotine, named after the French physician Joseph-Ignace Guillotin (1738–1814), who proposed its use for capital punishment.

This word in other languages

guillotina(Español)guillotine(Français)Guillotine(Deutsch)guilhotina(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • gguillotine
  • giullotine
  • guilloitne
  • guillotien
  • guillotinne
  • guillotnie
  • guillottine
  • guilltoine
  • guiloltine
  • guilotine
  • gulilotine
  • ugillotine

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of guillotine - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

gguillotine1giullotine2guilloitne2guillotien2guillotinne1guillotnie2guillottine1guilltoine2
Edit distance from "guillotine"

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 "guillotine"?
"guillotine" is spelled G-U-I-L-L-O-T-I-N-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈɡɪlətiːn/.
What does "guillotine" mean?
As a noun, "guillotine" means: A machine used for the application of capital punishment by decapitation, consisting of a tall upright frame from which is suspended a heavy diagonal-edged blade which is dropped onto the neck of t...
What are common misspellings of "guillotine"?
Common misspellings include "gguillotine", "giullotine", "guilloitne", "guillotien", "guillotinne". The correct spelling is "guillotine".
How do you pronounce "guillotine"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "guillotine" is /ˈɡɪlətiːn/. 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 "guillotine"?
Borrowed from French guillotine, named after the French physician Joseph-Ignace Guillotin (1738–1814), who proposed its use for capital punishment. 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 “guillotine”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is G-U-I-L-L-O-T-I-N-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈɡɪlətiːn/ (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

Same frequency band

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