inverse

/ɪnˈvɝs/

//ɪnˈvɝs// adj

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

"inverse" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“inverse” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #16,734 in English word frequency and used as an adjective.

#16,734
frequency rank, English
7
letters
10
tracked misspellings
9
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Opposite in effect, nature or order.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

inverse vs invest
71% similar
inverse vs invert
71% similar
inverse vs inverted
75% similar

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

Key facts for inverse
PropertyValue
Headwordinverse
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ɪnˈvɝs/
Letters7
Frequency rank#16,734
Misspellings tracked10
Confusable pairs9
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “inverse” 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). inverse 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 inverse is 7 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɪnˈvɝs/. Corpus data places it at rank #16,734 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 6 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 10 likely wrong-spelling variants for inverse, with forms such as "inevrse", "innverse", and "inveres". 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 9 confusable-pair relationships, "invest", "invert", "inverted", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: Recorded since 1440, from Latin inversus, the past participle of invertere (“to invert”), itself from in- (“reverse, reciprocal”) + vertere (“to turn”). The correct English form is inverse, spelled I-N-V-E-R-S-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    Opposite in effect, nature or order.
  2. 2
    Reverse, opposite in order.
  3. 3
    Inverted; having a position or mode of attachment the reverse of that which is usual.
  4. 4
    Having the properties of an inverse; said with reference to any two operations, which, when both are performed in succession upon any quantity, reproduce that quantity.
  5. 5
    That has the property of being an inverse (the result of a circle inversion of a given point or geometrical figure); that is constructed by circle inversion.
  6. 6
    Whose every element has an inverse (morphism which is both a left inverse and a right inverse).

Etymology

Recorded since 1440, from Latin inversus, the past participle of invertere (“to invert”), itself from in- (“reverse, reciprocal”) + vertere (“to turn”).

This word in other languages

inverso(Español)inversé(Français)entgegengesetzt(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: inevrse,innverse,inveres,inverrse,inversse,invesre,invrese,invverse,ivnerse,niverse

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

inevrse2innverse1inveres2inverrse1inversse1invesre2invrese2invverse1
Edit distance from "inverse"

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 "inverse"?
"inverse" is spelled I-N-V-E-R-S-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ɪnˈvɝs/.
What does "inverse" mean?
As an adjective, "inverse" means: Opposite in effect, nature or order.
What words are commonly confused with "inverse"?
"inverse" is commonly confused with "invest", "invert", "inverted". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "inverse"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "inverse" is /ɪnˈvɝs/. 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 "inverse"?
Recorded since 1440, from Latin inversus, the past participle of invertere (“to invert”), itself from in- (“reverse, reciprocal”) + vertere (“to turn”). 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 “inverse”

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

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