input

/ˈɪnpʊt/

//ˈɪnpʊt// noun

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

"input" is a 5-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“input” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #3,953 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#3,953
frequency rank, English
5
letters
7
tracked misspellings
12
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The act or process of putting in; infusion.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

input vs int
60% similar
input vs Inuit
40% similar
input vs inset
60% similar

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

Key facts for input
PropertyValue
Headwordinput
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈɪnpʊt/
Letters5
Frequency rank#3,953
Misspellings tracked7
Confusable pairs12
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “input” 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). input 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 input is 5 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈɪnpʊt/. Corpus data places it at rank #3,953 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 5 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 7 likely wrong-spelling variants for input, with forms such as "innput", "inpput", and "inptu". 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 12 confusable-pair relationships, "int", "Inuit", "inset", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English inputten, equivalent to in- + put. The correct English form is input, spelled I-N-P-U-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    The act or process of putting in; infusion.
  2. 2
    That which is put in, as in an amount.
  3. 3
    Contribution of work or information, as an opinion or advice.
  4. 4
    Data fed into a process with the intention of it shaping or affecting the output of that process.
  5. 5
    An input jack.

Etymology

From Middle English inputten, equivalent to in- + put.

This word in other languages

insumo(Español)entrée(Français)Eingabe(Deutsch)entrada(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: innput,inpput,inptu,inputt,inupt,ipnut,niput

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

innput1inpput1inptu2inputt1inupt2ipnut2niput2
Edit distance from "input"

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 "input"?
"input" is spelled I-N-P-U-T. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈɪnpʊt/.
What does "input" mean?
As a noun, "input" means: The act or process of putting in; infusion.
What words are commonly confused with "input"?
"input" is commonly confused with "int", "Inuit", "inset". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "input"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "input" is /ˈɪnpʊt/. 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 "input"?
From Middle English inputten, equivalent to in- + put. 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 “input”

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

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