learned

/ˈlɜːnɪd/

//ˈlɜːnɪd// adj

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

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

The verdict

“learned” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #1,486 in English word frequency and used as an adjective.

#1,486
frequency rank, English
7
letters
10
tracked misspellings
10
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Having much learning, knowledgeable, erudite; highly educated.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

learned vs learnt
71% similar
learned vs leased
71% similar
learned vs leaved
71% similar

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

Key facts for learned
PropertyValue
Headwordlearned
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˈlɜːnɪd/
Letters7
Frequency rank#1,486
Misspellings tracked10
Confusable pairs10
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “learned” 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). learned 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 learned is 7 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈlɜːnɪd/. Corpus data places it at rank #1,486 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. 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 learned, with forms such as "elarned", "laerned", and "leanred". 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, "learnt", "leased", "leaved", 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 Middle English lerned, lernd, lernyd, equivalent to learn + -ed, which replaced the earlier lered (“taught”), from Old English (ġe)lǣred, past participle of lǣran (“to teach”). Learn formerly had the meaning “to teach”, which is now found only in nonst… The correct English form is learned, spelled L-E-A-R-N-E-D.

Definition

  1. 1
    Having much learning, knowledgeable, erudite; highly educated.
  2. 2
    A courteous description used in various ways to refer to lawyers or judges.
  3. 3
    Scholarly, exhibiting scholarship.

Etymology

From Middle English lerned, lernd, lernyd, equivalent to learn + -ed, which replaced the earlier lered (“taught”), from Old English (ġe)lǣred, past participle of lǣran (“to teach”). Learn formerly had the meaning “to teach”, which is now found only in nonstandard speech, as well as its standard meaning of “to learn”.

Synonyms

academicalcluefulcultivatededucatederuditein the knowknowledgeableknowledgefulknowsomelearnedsavvyscholarlysmartsussedswitched onup onwell-informed

Antonyms

ignorantuncultivatedsimpleinnate

This word in other languages

docto(Español)érudit(Français)gelehrt(Deutsch)douto(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: elarned,laerned,leanred,learend,learnde,learnedd,learnned,learrned,leraned,llearned

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of learned - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

elarned2laerned2leanred2learend2learnde2learnedd1learnned1learrned1
Edit distance from "learned"

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 "learned"?
"learned" is spelled L-E-A-R-N-E-D. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈlɜːnɪd/.
What does "learned" mean?
As an adjective, "learned" means: Having much learning, knowledgeable, erudite; highly educated.
What words are commonly confused with "learned"?
"learned" is commonly confused with "learnt", "leased", "leaved". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "learned"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "learned" is /ˈlɜːnɪd/. 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 "learned"?
From Middle English lerned, lernd, lernyd, equivalent to learn + -ed, which replaced the earlier lered (“taught”), from Old English (ġe)lǣred, past participle of lǣran (“to teach”). Learn formerly had the meaning “to teach”, which is now found onl... 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 “learned”

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

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