kicker

/ˈkɪkɚ/

//ˈkɪkɚ// noun

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

The verdict

“kicker” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #16,952 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#16,952
frequency rank, English
6
letters
9
tracked misspellings
10
confusable pairs

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

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

kicker vs kicks
67% similar
kicker vs killer
67% similar
kicker vs kinder
67% similar

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

Key facts for kicker
PropertyValue
Headwordkicker
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈkɪkɚ/
Letters6
Frequency rank#16,952
Misspellings tracked9
Confusable pairs10
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “kicker” 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). kicker 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 kicker is 6 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈkɪkɚ/. Corpus data places it at rank #16,952 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 20 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 9 likely wrong-spelling variants for kicker, with forms such as "ikcker", "kciker", and "kiccker". 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 10 confusable-pair relationships, "kicks", "killer", "kinder", 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 kick + -er. The correct English form is kicker, spelled K-I-C-K-E-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    One who kicks.
  2. 2
    One who takes kicks.
  3. 3
    One who takes kicks.
  4. 4
    The kicking strap.
  5. 5
    An outboard motor.
  6. 6
    An unexpected situation, detail or circumstance, often unpleasant, serving as a punchline or clincher.
  7. 7
    An enticement for investors, e.g. warranty added to the investment contract.
  8. 8
    An unpaired card which is part of a pair, two pair, or three of a kind poker hand.
  9. 9
    Small text above a headline that indicates the topic of the story.
  10. 10
    The last one or two paragraphs of a story.
  11. 11
    Synonym of lead-in (“start of photo caption”).
  12. 12
    A lighthearted or humorous item used to round off a news broadcast.
  13. 13
    A device that periodically displaces a newspaper from the print production line, to aid in gathering the newspapers into fixed-size bundles.
  14. 14
    A launch ramp.
  15. 15
    The fermenting mass of fruit that is the basis of pruno, or "prison wine".
  16. 16
    A relaxed party.
  17. 17
    A backlight positioned at an angle.
  18. 18
    A rubber pad that propels the ball away upon impact, like a bumper, but usually a horizontal side of a wall.
  19. 19
    A practitioner of the kicking performance art.
  20. 20
    A complainer.

Etymology

From kick + -er.

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ikcker,kciker,kiccker,kicekr,kickerr,kickker,kickre,kikcer,kkicker

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

ikcker2kciker2kiccker1kicekr2kickerr1kickker1kickre2kikcer2
Edit distance from "kicker"

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 "kicker"?
"kicker" is spelled K-I-C-K-E-R. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈkɪkɚ/.
What does "kicker" mean?
As a noun, "kicker" means: One who kicks.
What words are commonly confused with "kicker"?
"kicker" is commonly confused with "kicks", "killer", "kinder". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "kicker"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "kicker" is /ˈkɪkɚ/. 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 "kicker"?
From kick + -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 “kicker”

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

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