item

/ˈaɪ.təm/

//ˈaɪ.təm// noun

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

"item" is a 4-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“item” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #2,629 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#2,629
frequency rank, English
4
letters
3
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A distinct physical object.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

item vs its
50% similar
item vs itt
50% similar
item vs ith
50% similar

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

Key facts for item
PropertyValue
Headworditem
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈaɪ.təm/
Letters4
Frequency rank#2,629
Misspellings tracked3
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “item” 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). item 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 item is 4 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈaɪ.təm/. Corpus data places it at rank #2,629 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 9 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 3 likely wrong-spelling variants for item, with forms such as "ietm", "itemm", and "ittem". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 20 confusable-pair relationships, "its", "itt", "ith", 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 Middle English item, from Latin item (“also; in the same manner”). The present English meaning derives from a usage in lists, where the first entry would begin in primis (“firstly”) or imprimis, and the other entries with item (“also, moreover”). Later… The correct English form is item, spelled I-T-E-M.

Definition

  1. 1
    A distinct physical object.
  2. 2
    An object that can be picked up for later use.
  3. 3
    A line of text having a legal or other meaning; a separate particular in an account.
  4. 4
    A question on a test, which may include its answers.
  5. 5
    A matter for discussion in an agenda.
  6. 6
    Two people who are having a romantic or sexual relationship with each other.
  7. 7
    A short article in a newspaper.
  8. 8
    A hint; an innuendo.
  9. 9
    Ellipsis of item girl.

Etymology

From Middle English item, from Latin item (“also; in the same manner”). The present English meaning derives from a usage in lists, where the first entry would begin in primis (“firstly”) or imprimis, and the other entries with item (“also, moreover”). Later, the members of lists were referred to as "items".

Synonyms

articleobjectthingsubjecttopiccoupletestassessment question

This word in other languages

artículo(Español)article(Français)Ding(Deutsch)item(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ietm,itemm,ittem

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of item - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

ietm2itemm1ittem1
Edit distance from "item"

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 "item"?
"item" is spelled I-T-E-M. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈaɪ.təm/.
What does "item" mean?
As a noun, "item" means: A distinct physical object.
What words are commonly confused with "item"?
"item" is commonly confused with "its", "itt", "ith". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "item"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "item" is /ˈaɪ.təm/. 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 "item"?
From Middle English item, from Latin item (“also; in the same manner”). The present English meaning derives from a usage in lists, where the first entry would begin in primis (“firstly”) or imprimis, and the other entries with item (“also, moreove... 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 “item”

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

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