javelin

/ˈd͡ʒæv.(ə.)lɪn/

//ˈd͡ʒæv.(ə.)lɪn// noun

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

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

The verdict

“javelin” has 10 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #32,876. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#32,876
frequency rank, English
796
“J” headwords
10
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - A light spear thrown with the hand and used as a weapon.

Corpus desk

Index EN-javelin · javelin · English

javelin · rank #32,876 · 10 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-MID #32,876
  • LEN-LONG 7 letters
  • VOW-3 3 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-MID 10 variants
  • BOOK-MID 796
  • PHOTO-FINISH Jenn

Nearest frequency peer: Jenn (+1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Rank peers near misspelling magnet “javelin”

Same rarity band: useful when a typo lands on a peer headword

corpus weight

What this shows “javelin” sits among these FrequencyWords peers; misspelling depth is tracked separately in the edit-distance chart.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026
Key facts for javelin
PropertyValue
Headwordjavelin
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈd͡ʒæv.(ə.)lɪn/
Letters7
Frequency rank#32,876
Misspellings tracked10
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “javelin”

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right).javelinlands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

The axis is logarithmic, with each marked tick roughly ten times rarer than the last. Same rarity band neighbours include “Jenn” (#32,877), “introspective” (#32,874), “Joplin” (#32,878). Among 796 “J” headwords, “javelin” is #32,876. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 10 spelling variants around javelin (IPA /ˈd͡ʒæv.(ə.)lɪn/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #32,876 among 796 “J” headwords. Wiktionary lists 3 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 10 likely wrong-spelling variants for javelin, with forms such as "ajvelin", "jaevlin", and "javeiln". 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. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English chafeveleyn, gavelong, from Old French javelline, diminutive of javelot, diminutive of *javel, from Vulgar Latin *gabalus, from Gaulish gabulum (compare Old Irish gabul (“fork”), Welsh gafl), from Proto-Celtic *gablā (“fork, forked branc… The correct English form is javelin, spelled J-A-V-E-L-I-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    A light spear thrown with the hand and used as a weapon.
  2. 2
    A metal-tipped spear thrown for distance in an athletic field event.
  3. 3
    A javelinfish (Coelorinchus australis).

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how javelin appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. And when Phinehas the sonne of Eleazar, the sonne of Aaron the Priest saw it, hee rose vp from amongst the Congregation, and tooke a iauelin in his hand. And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them thorow, the man of Israel, and the woman, thorow her belly: So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.
  2. Flies the javelin swifter to its mark, / Launched by the vigour of a Roman arm?

Etymology

From Middle English chafeveleyn, gavelong, from Old French javelline, diminutive of javelot, diminutive of *javel, from Vulgar Latin *gabalus, from Gaulish gabulum (compare Old Irish gabul (“fork”), Welsh gafl), from Proto-Celtic *gablā (“fork, forked branch”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰeh₁bʰ-. The Old French term was also borrowed into Middle Low German as gaveline, and into Middle High German as gabilot. Cognate with gavelock, gaffle.

This word in other languages

jabalina(Español)javelot(Français)Speer(Deutsch)dardo(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • ajvelin
  • jaevlin
  • javeiln
  • javelinn
  • javellin
  • javelni
  • javlein
  • javvelin
  • jjavelin
  • jvaelin

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of javelin - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

ajvelin2jaevlin2javeiln2javelinn1javellin1javelni2javlein2javvelin1
Edit distance from "javelin"

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 "javelin"?
"javelin" is spelled J-A-V-E-L-I-N. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈd͡ʒæv.(ə.)lɪn/.
What does "javelin" mean?
As a noun, "javelin" means: A light spear thrown with the hand and used as a weapon.
What are common misspellings of "javelin"?
Common misspellings include "ajvelin", "jaevlin", "javeiln", "javelinn", "javellin". The correct spelling is "javelin".
How do you pronounce "javelin"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "javelin" is /ˈd͡ʒæv.(ə.)lɪn/. 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 "javelin"?
From Middle English chafeveleyn, gavelong, from Old French javelline, diminutive of javelot, diminutive of *javel, from Vulgar Latin *gabalus, from Gaulish gabulum (compare Old Irish gabul (“fork”), Welsh gafl), from Proto-Celtic *gablā (“fork, fo... 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.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "javelin", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 7 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

Juanita#32,879inkling#32,867Klingon#32,886larceny#32,891

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (10 here; floor ≥5).

Lourdes10 variantshellfire10 variantshairless10 variantsgrinds10 variants

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list