interdict

/ˈɪntɚdɪkt/

//ˈɪntɚdɪkt// noun

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

The verdict

“interdict” is an uncommon English word, ranked #62,999 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#62,999
frequency rank, English
9
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A papal decree prohibiting the administration of the sacraments from a political entity under the power of a single person (e.g., a king or an oligarchy with similar powers). Extreme unction/Anoint...

Key facts for interdict
PropertyValue
Headwordinterdict
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈɪntɚdɪkt/
Letters9
Frequency rank#62,999
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “interdict” 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). interdict 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 interdict is 9 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈɪntɚdɪkt/. Corpus data places it at rank #62,999 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 2 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

interdict has no tracked misspelling variants, since its letter sequence doesn't invite the usual edit-distance slips. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, a sign it's visually distinctive enough not to be mixed up with another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English entrediten, from Old French entredire (“forbid”), from Latin interdīcō (“prohibit, forbid”), from inter- (“between”) + dīcō (“say”), from Proto-Indo-European *deyḱ-. The correct English form is interdict, spelled I-N-T-E-R-D-I-C-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    A papal decree prohibiting the administration of the sacraments from a political entity under the power of a single person (e.g., a king or an oligarchy with similar powers). Extreme unction/Anointing of the Sick is excepted.
  2. 2
    An injunction.

Etymology

From Middle English entrediten, from Old French entredire (“forbid”), from Latin interdīcō (“prohibit, forbid”), from inter- (“between”) + dīcō (“say”), from Proto-Indo-European *deyḱ-.

This word in other languages

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 "interdict"?
"interdict" is spelled I-N-T-E-R-D-I-C-T. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈɪntɚdɪkt/.
What does "interdict" mean?
As a noun, "interdict" means: A papal decree prohibiting the administration of the sacraments from a political entity under the power of a single person (e.g., a king or an oligarchy with similar powers). Extreme unction/Anoint...
How do you pronounce "interdict"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "interdict" is /ˈɪntɚdɪkt/. 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 "interdict"?
From Middle English entrediten, from Old French entredire (“forbid”), from Latin interdīcō (“prohibit, forbid”), from inter- (“between”) + dīcō (“say”), from Proto-Indo-European *deyḱ-. 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 “interdict”

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

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