gusset

/ˈɡʌsɪt/

//ˈɡʌsɪt// noun

"gusset" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“gusset” is an uncommon English word, ranked #87,343 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#87,343
frequency rank, English
6
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A small piece of cloth inserted in a garment, for the purpose of strengthening some part or giving it a tapering enlargement cf. godet.

Key facts for gusset
PropertyValue
Headwordgusset
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈɡʌsɪt/
Letters6
Frequency rank#87,343
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “gusset” 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). gusset 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 gusset is 6 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈɡʌsɪt/. Corpus data places it at rank #87,343 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 6 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

gusset has no tracked misspelling variants, a straightforward case of a spelling with little room for common typos. Our dataset records no confusable match here, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English gusset, gysset, from Old French gosset, gousset (“the hollow of the armpit”), diminutive of gose, gosse (“bean pod, hull, husk”). The correct English form is gusset, spelled G-U-S-S-E-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    A small piece of cloth inserted in a garment, for the purpose of strengthening some part or giving it a tapering enlargement cf. godet.
  2. 2
    A gousset, a piece of mail providing protection where armor plates meet.
  3. 3
    A kind of bracket, or angular part, fastened in the angles of a structure to give strength or stiffness; especially, the part joining the barrel and the fire box of a locomotive boiler.
  4. 4
    An ordinary on a coat of arms, resembling a gusset (see usage notes).
  5. 5
    A large flat metal piece wider than the valley to help prevent build-up at the base of the valley, either from debris or ice dam formations.
  6. 6
    An intercellular space at an angle where more than two cells meet.

Etymology

From Middle English gusset, gysset, from Old French gosset, gousset (“the hollow of the armpit”), diminutive of gose, gosse (“bean pod, hull, husk”).

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 "gusset"?
"gusset" is spelled G-U-S-S-E-T. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈɡʌsɪt/.
What does "gusset" mean?
As a noun, "gusset" means: A small piece of cloth inserted in a garment, for the purpose of strengthening some part or giving it a tapering enlargement cf. godet.
How do you pronounce "gusset"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "gusset" is /ˈɡʌsɪt/. 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 "gusset"?
From Middle English gusset, gysset, from Old French gosset, gousset (“the hollow of the armpit”), diminutive of gose, gosse (“bean pod, hull, husk”). 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 “gusset”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is G-U-S-S-E-T - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈɡʌsɪt/ (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