indefinite

/ɪnˈdɛfɪnɪt/

//ɪnˈdɛfɪnɪt// adj

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

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

The verdict

“indefinite” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #16,942 in English word frequency and used as an adjective.

#16,942
frequency rank, English
10
letters
14
tracked misspellings
2
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Without limit; forever, or until further notice; not definite.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

indefinite vs infinite
80% similar
indefinite vs indefinitely
83% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for indefinite
PropertyValue
Headwordindefinite
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ɪnˈdɛfɪnɪt/
Letters10
Frequency rank#16,942
Misspellings tracked14
Confusable pairs2
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “indefinite” 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). indefinite 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 indefinite is 10 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɪnˈdɛfɪnɪt/. Corpus data places it at rank #16,942 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 5 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 14 likely wrong-spelling variants for indefinite, with forms such as "idnefinite", "inddefinite", and "indeffinite". 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. It also participates in 2 confusable-pair relationships, "infinite", "indefinitely", where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Late Latin indēfīnītus. Morphologically in- + definite. The correct English form is indefinite, spelled I-N-D-E-F-I-N-I-T-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    Without limit; forever, or until further notice; not definite.
  2. 2
    Vague or unclear.
  3. 3
    Undecided or uncertain.
  4. 4
    Being an integral without specified limits.
  5. 5
    Designating an unspecified or unidentified person or thing or group of persons or things.

Etymology

From Late Latin indēfīnītus. Morphologically in- + definite.

Synonyms

unlimitedunrestrictedhazyindistinctvagueindeterminateunsettledindecisiveunsure

This word in other languages

indefinido(Español)unbegrenzt(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: idnefinite,inddefinite,indeffinite,indefiinte,indefiniet,indefinitte,indefinnite,indefintie,indefniite,indeifnite,indfeinite,inedfinite,inndefinite,nidefinite

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

idnefinite2inddefinite1indeffinite1indefiinte2indefiniet2indefinitte1indefinnite1indefintie2
Edit distance from "indefinite"

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 "indefinite"?
"indefinite" is spelled I-N-D-E-F-I-N-I-T-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ɪnˈdɛfɪnɪt/.
What does "indefinite" mean?
As an adjective, "indefinite" means: Without limit; forever, or until further notice; not definite.
What words are commonly confused with "indefinite"?
"indefinite" is commonly confused with "infinite", "indefinitely". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "indefinite"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "indefinite" is /ɪnˈdɛfɪnɪt/. 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 "indefinite"?
From Late Latin indēfīnītus. Morphologically in- + definite. 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 “indefinite”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is I-N-D-E-F-I-N-I-T-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ɪnˈdɛfɪnɪt/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “infinite” - see the side-by-side comparison. indefinite vs infinite
  • 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