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” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #32,876 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#32,876
frequency rank, English
7
letters
10
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A light spear thrown with the hand and used as a weapon.

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)

Where “javelin” 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). javelin 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 javelin is 7 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈd͡ʒæv.(ə.)lɪn/. Corpus data places it at rank #32,876 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 3 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 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).

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.

Using “javelin”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is J-A-V-E-L-I-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈd͡ʒæv.(ə.)lɪn/ (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.

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list