intensity

/ɪnˈtɛnsɪti/

//ɪnˈtɛnsɪti// noun

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

"intensity" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“intensity” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #5,697 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#5,697
frequency rank, English
9
letters
14
tracked misspellings
6
confusable pairs

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

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

intensity vs intensive
78% similar
intensity vs intercity
78% similar
intensity vs integrity
78% similar

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

Key facts for intensity
PropertyValue
Headwordintensity
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ɪnˈtɛnsɪti/
Letters9
Frequency rank#5,697
Misspellings tracked14
Confusable pairs6
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “intensity” 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). intensity 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 intensity is 9 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɪnˈtɛnsɪti/. Corpus data places it at rank #5,697 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 6 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 intensity, with forms such as "inetnsity", "inntensity", and "intenisty". 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 6 confusable-pair relationships, "intensive", "intercity", "integrity", 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 intense + -ity. Cf. also Medieval Latin intensitas. The correct English form is intensity, spelled I-N-T-E-N-S-I-T-Y.

Definition

  1. 1
    The quality of being intense.
  2. 2
    The degree of strength.
  3. 3
    Time-averaged energy flux (the ratio of average power to the area through which the power "flows"); irradiance.
  4. 4
    Can mean any of radiant intensity, luminous intensity or irradiance.
  5. 5
    Synonym of radiance.
  6. 6
    The severity of an earthquake in terms of its effects on the earth's surface, and buildings. The value depends on the distance from the epicentre, and is not to be confused with the magnitude.

Etymology

From intense + -ity. Cf. also Medieval Latin intensitas.

This word in other languages

intensidad(Español)intensité(Français)Intensität(Deutsch)intensidade(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: inetnsity,inntensity,intenisty,intennsity,intensitty,intensityy,intensiyt,intenssity,intenstiy,intesnity,intnesity,inttensity,itnensity,nitensity

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

inetnsity2inntensity1intenisty2intennsity1intensitty1intensityy1intensiyt2intenssity1
Edit distance from "intensity"

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 "intensity"?
"intensity" is spelled I-N-T-E-N-S-I-T-Y. The IPA pronunciation is /ɪnˈtɛnsɪti/.
What does "intensity" mean?
As a noun, "intensity" means: The quality of being intense.
What words are commonly confused with "intensity"?
"intensity" is commonly confused with "intensive", "intercity", "integrity". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "intensity"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "intensity" is /ɪnˈtɛnsɪti/. 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 "intensity"?
From intense + -ity. Cf. also Medieval Latin intensitas. 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 “intensity”

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

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