knockout

/ˈnɒk.aʊt/

//ˈnɒk.aʊt// noun

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

"knockout" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“knockout” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #12,803 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#12,803
frequency rank, English
8
letters
12
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The act of making one unconscious, or at least unable to come back on one's feet within a certain period of time; a TKO.

Key facts for knockout
PropertyValue
Headwordknockout
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈnɒk.aʊt/
Letters8
Frequency rank#12,803
Misspellings tracked12
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “knockout” 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). knockout 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 knockout is 8 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈnɒk.aʊt/. Corpus data places it at rank #12,803 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 12 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 12 likely wrong-spelling variants for knockout, with forms such as "kknockout", "kncokout", and "knnockout". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: Deverbal from knock out. The correct English form is knockout, spelled K-N-O-C-K-O-U-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    The act of making one unconscious, or at least unable to come back on one's feet within a certain period of time; a TKO.
  2. 2
    The deactivation of anything.
  3. 3
    Something wildly popular, entertaining, or funny.
  4. 4
    A very attractive person, especially a beautiful woman.
  5. 5
    A partially punched opening meant for optional later removal.
  6. 6
    The deactivation of a particular gene.
  7. 7
    A creature engineered with a particular gene deactivated.
  8. 8
    An event where a foreground color causes a background color not to print.
  9. 9
    A tournament in which a team or player must beat the opponent in order to progress to the next round.
  10. 10
    A simple game for two or more players, derived from basketball.
  11. 11
    A woman in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.
  12. 12
    Ellipsis of knockout auction.

Etymology

Deverbal from knock out.

This word in other languages

KO(Français)nocaute(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: kknockout,kncokout,knnockout,knocckout,knockkout,knockotu,knockoutt,knockuot,knocokut,knokcout,konckout,nkockout

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

kknockout1kncokout2knnockout1knocckout1knockkout1knockotu2knockoutt1knockuot2
Edit distance from "knockout"

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 "knockout"?
"knockout" is spelled K-N-O-C-K-O-U-T. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈnɒk.aʊt/.
What does "knockout" mean?
As a noun, "knockout" means: The act of making one unconscious, or at least unable to come back on one's feet within a certain period of time; a TKO.
What are common misspellings of "knockout"?
Common misspellings include "kknockout", "kncokout", "knnockout", "knocckout", "knockkout". The correct spelling is "knockout".
How do you pronounce "knockout"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "knockout" is /ˈnɒk.aʊt/. 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 "knockout"?
Deverbal from knock out. 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 “knockout”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is K-N-O-C-K-O-U-T - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈnɒk.aʊt/ (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