keeper

/ˈkiːpə/

//ˈkiːpə// noun

"keeper" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“keeper” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #6,929 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#6,929
frequency rank, English
6
letters
8
tracked misspellings
11
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - One who keeps (retains) something.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

keeper vs keeps
67% similar
keeper vs Keller
50% similar
keeper vs Kiefer
50% similar

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

Key facts for keeper
PropertyValue
Headwordkeeper
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈkiːpə/
Letters6
Frequency rank#6,929
Misspellings tracked8
Confusable pairs11
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “keeper” 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). keeper 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 keeper is 6 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈkiːpə/. Corpus data places it at rank #6,929 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 11 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 8 likely wrong-spelling variants for keeper, with forms such as "ekeper", "keeepr", and "keeperr". 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 11 confusable-pair relationships, "keeps", "Keller", "Kiefer", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English kepere. By surface analysis, keep + -er. The correct English form is keeper, spelled K-E-E-P-E-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    One who keeps (retains) something.
  2. 2
    One who remains or keeps in a place or position.
  3. 3
    A fruit or vegetable that keeps (remains good) for some time without spoiling.
  4. 4
    A person or thing worth keeping.
  5. 5
    A person charged with guarding or caring for, storing, or maintaining something; a custodian, a guard; sometimes a gamekeeper.
  6. 6
    The player charged with guarding a goal or wicket; a goalkeeper or wicketkeeper.
  7. 7
    At Eton College, a student who is the captain of a sport or an activity such as drama.
  8. 8
    A part of a mechanism that catches or retains another part, for example the part of a door lock that fits in the frame and receives the bolt.
  9. 9
    A thin, flexible tress or tongue of material (e.g. leather) at the end of a crop opposite the handle, which is broad enough to prevent the horse's skin from being marked as it might be by a whip.
  10. 10
    An offensive play in which the quarterback runs toward the goal with the ball after it is snapped.
  11. 11
    Synonym of armature (“piece of metal connecting the poles of a magnet to preserve its strength by forming a circuit”).

Etymology

From Middle English kepere. By surface analysis, keep + -er.

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ekeper,keeepr,keeperr,keepper,keepre,kepeer,keper,kkeeper

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of keeper - 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.

ekeper2keeepr2keeperr1keepper1keepre2kepeer2keper1kkeeper1
Edit distance from "keeper"

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 "keeper"?
"keeper" is spelled K-E-E-P-E-R. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈkiːpə/.
What does "keeper" mean?
As a noun, "keeper" means: One who keeps (retains) something.
What words are commonly confused with "keeper"?
"keeper" is commonly confused with "keeps", "Keller", "Kiefer". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "keeper"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "keeper" is /ˈkiːpə/. 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 "keeper"?
From Middle English kepere. By surface analysis, keep + -er. 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 “keeper”

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

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