interstice
/ɪnˈtɜː.stɪs/
"interstice" is a 10-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“interstice” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a noun - the kind of word writers most often double-check.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 10
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A small opening or space between objects, especially adjacent objects or objects set closely together, such as between cords in a rope, components of a multiconductor electrical cable or atoms in a...
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | interstice |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Noun |
| IPA | /ɪnˈtɜː.stɪs/ |
| Letters | 10 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “interstice” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for interstice is 10 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɪnˈtɜː.stɪs/. 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.
Zero misspellings are on record for interstice in our index, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.
Etymologically, the entry records: From late Middle English interstice, from Old French interstice or directly from Latin interstitium (“a space between, gap, interval”), ultimately from intersistere (“to stand in between, to stop in the middle”), from inter- + sistere (“to stand, to stop”). The correct English form is interstice, spelled I-N-T-E-R-S-T-I-C-E.
Definition
- 1A small opening or space between objects, especially adjacent objects or objects set closely together, such as between cords in a rope, components of a multiconductor electrical cable or atoms in a crystal.
- 2A fragment of space.
- 3An interval of time required by the Roman Catholic Church between the attainment of different degrees of an order.
- 4A small interval of time free to be spent on activities other than one's primary goal.
Etymology
From late Middle English interstice, from Old French interstice or directly from Latin interstitium (“a space between, gap, interval”), ultimately from intersistere (“to stand in between, to stop in the middle”), from inter- + sistere (“to stand, to stop”).
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). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Using “interstice”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is I-N-T-E-R-S-T-I-C-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /ɪnˈtɜː.stɪs/ (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.