inflect

/ɪnˈflɛkt/

//ɪnˈflɛkt// verb

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

"inflect" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“inflect” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a verb - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
7
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To cause to curve inwards.

Key facts for inflect
PropertyValue
Headwordinflect
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ɪnˈflɛkt/
Letters7
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “inflect” sits in English frequency

inflect 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.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for inflect is 7 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɪnˈflɛkt/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 4 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our edit-distance generator produced no likely misspellings for inflect, a sign its spelling follows regular English conventions. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Latin īnflectō, from in- (“in”) + flectō (“I bend”). The correct English form is inflect, spelled I-N-F-L-E-C-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    To cause to curve inwards.
  2. 2
    To change the tone or pitch of the voice when speaking or singing.
  3. 3
    To vary the form of a word to express tense, gender, number, mood, etc.
  4. 4
    To be varied in the form to express tense, gender, number, mood, etc.

Etymology

From Latin īnflectō, from in- (“in”) + flectō (“I bend”).

Synonyms

inbend

This word in other languages

modular(Español)infléchir(Français)flektieren(Deutsch)variar(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.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "inflect"?
"inflect" is spelled I-N-F-L-E-C-T. The IPA pronunciation is /ɪnˈflɛkt/.
What does "inflect" mean?
As a verb, "inflect" means: To cause to curve inwards.
How do you pronounce "inflect"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "inflect" is /ɪnˈflɛkt/. 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 "inflect"?
From Latin īnflectō, from in- (“in”) + flectō (“I bend”). 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 “inflect”

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

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