idolatry

/aɪˈdɒl.ə.tɹi/

//aɪˈdɒl.ə.tɹi// noun

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

The verdict

“idolatry” has 12 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #36,185. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#36,185
frequency rank, English
17,902
“I” headwords
12
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The worship of idols.

Key facts for idolatry
PropertyValue
Headwordidolatry
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/aɪˈdɒl.ə.tɹi/
Letters8
Frequency rank#36,185
Misspellings tracked12
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “idolatry” 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). idolatry 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 idolatry (IPA /aɪˈdɒl.ə.tɹi/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #36,185 among 17,902 “I” headwords. Wiktionary lists 2 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 12 likely wrong-spelling variants for idolatry, with forms such as "diolatry", "iddolatry", and "idloatry". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: Inherited from Middle English ydolatrie, from Old French idolatrie, from Ecclesiastical Latin īdōlatrīa, from Late Latin īdōlolatrīa, from Ancient Greek εἰδωλολατρίᾱ (eidōlolatríā, “worship of idols”), back-formation from εἰδωλολάτρης (eidōlolátrēs), from ε… The correct English form is idolatry, spelled I-D-O-L-A-T-R-Y.

Definition

  1. 1
    The worship of idols.
  2. 2
    The excessive admiration of somebody or something.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English ydolatrie, from Old French idolatrie, from Ecclesiastical Latin īdōlatrīa, from Late Latin īdōlolatrīa, from Ancient Greek εἰδωλολατρίᾱ (eidōlolatríā, “worship of idols”), back-formation from εἰδωλολάτρης (eidōlolátrēs), from εἴδωλον (eídōlon, “idol”) & λάτρις (látris, “worshipper”) or λατρεύω (latreúō, “I worship”), from λάτρον (látron, “payment”). Equivalent to idol + -latry. Cognate with Modern French idolâtrie, Italian idolatria, Occitan ydolatria, Portuguese idolatria, and Spanish idolatría. Displaced native Old English dēofolġield (literally “devil worship”).

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: diolatry,iddolatry,idloatry,idoaltry,idolarty,idolatrry,idolatryy,idolattry,idolatyr,idollatry,idoltary,iodlatry

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of idolatry - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

diolatry2iddolatry1idloatry2idoaltry2idolarty2idolatrry1idolatryy1idolattry1
Edit distance from "idolatry"

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 "idolatry"?
"idolatry" is spelled I-D-O-L-A-T-R-Y. The IPA pronunciation is /aɪˈdɒl.ə.tɹi/.
What does "idolatry" mean?
As a noun, "idolatry" means: The worship of idols.
What are common misspellings of "idolatry"?
Common misspellings include "diolatry", "iddolatry", "idloatry", "idoaltry", "idolarty". The correct spelling is "idolatry".
How do you pronounce "idolatry"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "idolatry" is /aɪˈdɒl.ə.tɹi/. 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 "idolatry"?
Inherited from Middle English ydolatrie, from Old French idolatrie, from Ecclesiastical Latin īdōlatrīa, from Late Latin īdōlolatrīa, from Ancient Greek εἰδωλολατρίᾱ (eidōlolatríā, “worship of idols”), back-formation from εἰδωλολάτρης (eidōlolátrē... 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 “idolatry”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is I-D-O-L-A-T-R-Y - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /aɪˈdɒl.ə.tɹi/ (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