inferiority

noun

"inferiority" is a 11-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“inferiority” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #30,095 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#30,095
frequency rank, English
11
letters
16
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The quality or state of being inferior.

Key facts for inferiority
PropertyValue
Headwordinferiority
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
Letters11
Frequency rank#30,095
Misspellings tracked16
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “inferiority” 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). inferiority 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 inferiority is 11 letters long, classified as a noun. Corpus data places it at rank #30,095 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 4 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 16 likely wrong-spelling variants for inferiority, with forms such as "ifneriority", "inefriority", and "infeirority". 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. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: Morphologically inferior + -ity. The correct English form is inferiority, spelled I-N-F-E-R-I-O-R-I-T-Y.

Definition

  1. 1
    The quality or state of being inferior.
  2. 2
    An inferior value or quality.
  3. 3
    An inferior power.
  4. 4
    The quality of being a competitive disadvantage.

Etymology

Morphologically inferior + -ity.

Synonyms

Antonyms

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ifneriority,inefriority,infeirority,inferioirty,inferioritty,inferiorityy,inferioriyt,inferiorrity,inferiortiy,inferiroity,inferoirity,inferriority,infferiority,infreiority,innferiority,niferiority

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

ifneriority2inefriority2infeirority2inferioirty2inferioritty1inferiorityy1inferioriyt2inferiorrity1
Edit distance from "inferiority"

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 "inferiority"?
"inferiority" is spelled I-N-F-E-R-I-O-R-I-T-Y.
What does "inferiority" mean?
As a noun, "inferiority" means: The quality or state of being inferior.
What are common misspellings of "inferiority"?
Common misspellings include "ifneriority", "inefriority", "infeirority", "inferioirty", "inferioritty". The correct spelling is "inferiority".
What is the origin of the word "inferiority"?
Morphologically inferior + -ity. 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 “inferiority”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is I-N-F-E-R-I-O-R-I-T-Y - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • 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