holotype

noun

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

The verdict

“holotype” has 12 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #41,182. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#41,182
frequency rank, English
23,837
“H” headwords
12
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The single physical example (or illustration) of an organism used to formally describe the species (or lower-order taxon), subsequently to be kept as a reference.

Key facts for holotype
PropertyValue
Headwordholotype
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
Letters8
Frequency rank#41,182
Misspellings tracked12
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “holotype” 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). holotype 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 holotype, anoun. Corpus frequency is #41,182 among 23,837 “H” headwords. Dominant gloss: "The single physical example (or illustration) of an organism used to formally describe the species (or lower-order taxon), subsequently to be kept as a reference.".

Our generated misspelling index lists 12 likely wrong-spelling variants for holotype, with forms such as "hholotype", "hlootype", and "hollotype". 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. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

Etymologically, the entry records: From holo- + -type. The correct English form is holotype, spelled H-O-L-O-T-Y-P-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    The single physical example (or illustration) of an organism used to formally describe the species (or lower-order taxon), subsequently to be kept as a reference.

Etymology

From holo- + -type.

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: hholotype,hlootype,hollotype,holotpye,holottype,holotyep,holotyppe,holotyype,holoytpe,holtoype,hooltype,ohlotype

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

hholotype1hlootype2hollotype1holotpye2holottype1holotyep2holotyppe1holotyype1
Edit distance from "holotype"

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 "holotype"?
"holotype" is spelled H-O-L-O-T-Y-P-E.
What does "holotype" mean?
As a noun, "holotype" means: The single physical example (or illustration) of an organism used to formally describe the species (or lower-order taxon), subsequently to be kept as a reference.
What are common misspellings of "holotype"?
Common misspellings include "hholotype", "hlootype", "hollotype", "holotpye", "holottype". The correct spelling is "holotype".
What is the origin of the word "holotype"?
From holo- + -type. 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 “holotype”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is H-O-L-O-T-Y-P-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • 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