in case

/ɪn ˈkeɪs/

//ɪn ˈkeɪs// conj

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

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

The verdict

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

Unranked
below top-frequency English
7
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - To allow for the possibility that.

Corpus desk

Index EN-in-case · in case · English

in case · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
  • LEN-LONG 7 letters
  • VOW-3 3 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-THIN "I" thin
  • PHOTO-UNK Peer pending

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Key facts for in case
PropertyValue
Headwordin case
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechConjunction
IPA/ɪn ˈkeɪs/
Letters7
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “in case” sits in English frequency

in case 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

in case is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as aconjunction, transcribed /ɪn ˈkeɪs/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 2 senses are on record.

No misspelling variants are generated for in case in our index, and the word's spelling is regular enough that our generator found nothing worth flagging. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, since nothing in our dataset looks or sounds close enough to cause mix-ups.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English [Term?]. The correct English form is in case, spelled I-N- -C-A-S-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To allow for the possibility that.
  2. 2
    If.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how in case appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. I'll take an umbrella, in case it rains.
  2. I’ve bought a chicken in case grandpa should stay to dine.

Etymology

From Middle English [Term?].

Synonyms

in the event

This word in other languages

por si acaso(Español)au cas où(Français)falls(Deutsch)caso(Português)

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.

PlainSpell is rendered directly from structured Wiktionary extracts and open word-frequency lists, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of September 3, 2026. Primary sources: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) and FrequencyWords.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "in case"?
"in case" is spelled I-N- -C-A-S-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ɪn ˈkeɪs/.
What does "in case" mean?
As a conjunction, "in case" means: To allow for the possibility that.
How do you pronounce "in case"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "in case" is /ɪn ˈkeɪs/. 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 "in case"?
From Middle English [Term?]. 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.

What to do next

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PlainSpell is a reference corpus, not spelling advice. Verify unusual forms in context.

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