interface

/ˈɪntəfeɪs/

//ˈɪntəfeɪs// noun

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

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

The verdict

“interface” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #5,887 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#5,887
frequency rank, English
9
letters
13
tracked misspellings
3
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The point of interconnection or contact between entities.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

interface vs interfere
78% similar
interface vs interfaces
90% similar
interface vs interact
78% similar

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

Key facts for interface
PropertyValue
Headwordinterface
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈɪntəfeɪs/
Letters9
Frequency rank#5,887
Misspellings tracked13
Confusable pairs3
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “interface” 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). interface 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 interface is 9 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈɪntəfeɪs/. Corpus data places it at rank #5,887 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 8 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 13 likely wrong-spelling variants for interface, with forms such as "inetrface", "innterface", and "intefrace". 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. It also participates in 3 confusable-pair relationships, "interfere", "interfaces", "interact", since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From inter- (“between”) + face (“shape, figure, form”). The correct English form is interface, spelled I-N-T-E-R-F-A-C-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    The point of interconnection or contact between entities.
  2. 2
    A thin layer or boundary between different substances or two phases of a single substance.
  3. 3
    The point of interconnection between systems or subsystems.
  4. 4
    The connection between a user and a machine.
  5. 5
    The connection between parts of software; also the public or published sections of an object or module.
  6. 6
    In object-oriented programming, a piece of code defining a set of operations that other code must implement.
  7. 7
    In some languages, a block of code declaring the interface (point of interconnection) between a class and code that interacts with it.
  8. 8
    The internal surface of a coiled protein (compare exoface).

Etymology

From inter- (“between”) + face (“shape, figure, form”).

This word in other languages

interfaz(Español)interface(Français)Schnittstelle(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: inetrface,innterface,intefrace,interafce,interfacce,interfaec,interfcae,interfface,interrface,intreface,intterface,itnerface,niterface

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

inetrface2innterface1intefrace2interafce2interfacce1interfaec2interfcae2interfface1
Edit distance from "interface"

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 "interface"?
"interface" is spelled I-N-T-E-R-F-A-C-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈɪntəfeɪs/.
What does "interface" mean?
As a noun, "interface" means: The point of interconnection or contact between entities.
What words are commonly confused with "interface"?
"interface" is commonly confused with "interfere", "interfaces", "interact". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "interface"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "interface" is /ˈɪntəfeɪs/. 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 "interface"?
From inter- (“between”) + face (“shape, figure, form”). 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 “interface”

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

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