ligature

Name: ligature, English Word Data
Creator: Wiktionary
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

/ˈlɪɡət͡ʃɚ/

//ˈlɪɡət͡ʃɚ// noun

By PlainSpell Editorial Team · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) · analyzed May 6, 2026

The verdict

“ligature” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #38,018 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#38,018
frequency rank, English: 8
letters: 11
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The act of tying or binding something.

Key facts for ligature
Property	Value
Headword	ligature
Language	English
Part of speech	Noun
IPA	/ˈlɪɡət͡ʃɚ/
Letters	8
Frequency rank	#38,018
Misspellings tracked	11
Confusable pairs	0
Source	Wiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “ligature” 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). ligature lands here:

#38,018

#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 ligature is 8 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈlɪɡət͡ʃɚ/. Corpus data places it at rank #38,018 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 10 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 11 likely wrong-spelling variants for ligature, with forms such as "ilgature", "lgiature", and "liagture". 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. It is not paired with a close-neighbour confusable in our dataset, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English ligature, from Middle French ligature, from Late Latin ligātūra, from Latin ligātus, past participle of ligāre (“to tie, bind”). The correct English form is ligature, spelled L-I-G-A-T-U-R-E.

Definition

1
The act of tying or binding something.
2
A cord or similar thing used to tie something; especially the thread used in surgery to close a vessel or duct.
3
A thread or wire used to remove tumours, etc.
4
The state of being bound or stiffened; stiffness.
5
A character that visually combines multiple letters, such as æ, œ, ß or ĳ; also logotype. Sometimes called a typographic ligature.
6
A group of notes played as a phrase, or the curved line that indicates such a phrase.
7
A curve or line connecting notes; a slur.
8
A piece used to hold a reed to the mouthpiece on woodwind instruments.
9
Any binding, uniting, or restraining principle or agency.
10
A spell or charm that induces sexual impotence.

Etymology

From Middle English ligature, from Middle French ligature, from Late Latin ligātūra, from Latin ligātus, past participle of ligāre (“to tie, bind”).

This word in other languages

ligadura(Español)ligature(Français)Ligatur(Deutsch)ligação(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ilgature,lgiature,liagture,ligatrue,ligatture,ligatuer,ligaturre,ligautre,liggature,ligtaure,lligature

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

Edit distance from "ligature"

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 "ligature"?

"ligature" is spelled L-I-G-A-T-U-R-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈlɪɡət͡ʃɚ/.

What does "ligature" mean?

As a noun, "ligature" means: The act of tying or binding something.

What are common misspellings of "ligature"?

Common misspellings include "ilgature", "lgiature", "liagture", "ligatrue", "ligatture". The correct spelling is "ligature".

How do you pronounce "ligature"?

The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "ligature" is /ˈlɪɡət͡ʃɚ/. 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 "ligature"?

From Middle English ligature, from Middle French ligature, from Late Latin ligātūra, from Latin ligātus, past participle of ligāre (“to tie, bind”). 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 “ligature”

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

The one correct English spelling is L-I-G-A-T-U-R-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
Say it as /ˈlɪɡət͡ʃɚ/ (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.