incestuous

/ɪnˈsɛstjuəs/

//ɪnˈsɛstjuəs// adj

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

The verdict

“incestuous” has 14 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #40,748. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#40,748
frequency rank, English
17,902
“I” headwords
14
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Pertaining to or engaging in incest.

Key facts for incestuous
PropertyValue
Headwordincestuous
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ɪnˈsɛstjuəs/
Letters10
Frequency rank#40,748
Misspellings tracked14
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “incestuous” 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). incestuous 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 14 spelling variants around incestuous (IPA /ɪnˈsɛstjuəs/), anadjective. Corpus frequency is #40,748 among 17,902 “I” headwords. Wiktionary lists 2 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 14 likely wrong-spelling variants for incestuous, with forms such as "icnestuous", "inccestuous", and "incesstuous". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. 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: From incest + -ous. The correct English form is incestuous, spelled I-N-C-E-S-T-U-O-U-S.

Definition

  1. 1
    Pertaining to or engaging in incest.
  2. 2
    Characterized by mutual relationships that are intimate and exclusive to the detriment of outsiders.

Etymology

From incest + -ous.

Synonyms

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: icnestuous,inccestuous,incesstuous,incestouus,incesttuous,incestuosu,incestuouss,incestuuos,incesutous,incetsuous,incsetuous,inecstuous,inncestuous,nicestuous

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of incestuous - 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.

icnestuous2inccestuous1incesstuous1incestouus2incesttuous1incestuosu2incestuouss1incestuuos2
Edit distance from "incestuous"

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 "incestuous"?
"incestuous" is spelled I-N-C-E-S-T-U-O-U-S. The IPA pronunciation is /ɪnˈsɛstjuəs/.
What does "incestuous" mean?
As an adjective, "incestuous" means: Pertaining to or engaging in incest.
What are common misspellings of "incestuous"?
Common misspellings include "icnestuous", "inccestuous", "incesstuous", "incestouus", "incesttuous". The correct spelling is "incestuous".
How do you pronounce "incestuous"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "incestuous" is /ɪnˈsɛstjuəs/. 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 "incestuous"?
From incest + -ous. 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 “incestuous”

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

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