kneecap

/ˈniːˌkæp/

//ˈniːˌkæp// noun

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

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

The verdict

“kneecap” is uncommon English (frequency #53,051 among 1,236 “K” headwords), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#53,051
frequency rank, English
1,236
“K” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - The flat, roundish bone in the knee.

Corpus desk

Index EN-kneecap · kneecap · English

kneecap · rank #53,051 · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-RARE #53,051
  • LEN-LONG 7 letters
  • VOW-3 3 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-MID 1,236
  • PHOTO-FINISH knave

Nearest frequency peer: knave (-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.

Long-tail ranks near “kneecap”

Sparse band: bars invert rank so rarer forms read shorter

corpus weight

What this shows Long-tail view: where “kneecap” sits against similarly uncommon English ranks.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026
Key facts for kneecap
PropertyValue
Headwordkneecap
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈniːˌkæp/
Letters7
Frequency rank#53,051
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “kneecap” in English

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

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

Ticks step logarithmically, so each one marks a roughly tenfold drop in how often the word turns up. Rare peers in the same band: “knave” (#53,050), “Knowlton” (#53,052), “Kiribati” (#53,048). Among 1,236 “K” headwords, “kneecap” is #53,051. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

kneecap is uncommon English at frequency #53,051 among 1,236 “K” headwords, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈniːˌkæp/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 3 senses are on record.

Our edit-distance generator produced no likely misspellings for kneecap, since its letter sequence doesn't invite the usual edit-distance slips. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: From knee + cap. The correct English form is kneecap, spelled K-N-E-E-C-A-P.

Definition

  1. 1
    The flat, roundish bone in the knee.
  2. 2
    A metal cover trim that fits over a panel rib after it has been cut and bent.
  3. 3
    A cap or strong covering for the knees, used chiefly for horses, to protect their knees in case of a fall.

Etymology

From knee + cap.

This word in other languages

rótula(Español)rotule(Français)Kniescheibe(Deutsch)rótula(Português)

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 "kneecap"?
"kneecap" is spelled K-N-E-E-C-A-P. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈniːˌkæp/.
What does "kneecap" mean?
As a noun, "kneecap" means: The flat, roundish bone in the knee.
How do you pronounce "kneecap"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "kneecap" is /ˈniːˌkæp/. 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 "kneecap"?
From knee + cap. 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 "kneecap", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

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

laminar#53,059Jutland#53,042jughead#53,040Leonora#53,070

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list