linkage

/ˈlɪŋkɪdʒ/

//ˈlɪŋkɪdʒ// noun

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

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

The verdict

“linkage” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #24,224 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#24,224
frequency rank, English
7
letters
10
tracked misspellings
3
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A mechanical device that connects things.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

linkage vs lineage
86% similar
linkage vs leakage
71% similar
linkage vs lineages
75% similar

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

Key facts for linkage
PropertyValue
Headwordlinkage
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈlɪŋkɪdʒ/
Letters7
Frequency rank#24,224
Misspellings tracked10
Confusable pairs3
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “linkage” 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). linkage 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 linkage is 7 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈlɪŋkɪdʒ/. Corpus data places it at rank #24,224 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 6 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 linkage, with forms such as "ilnkage", "liknage", and "linakge". 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 also participates in 3 confusable-pair relationships, "lineage", "leakage", "lineages", where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From link + -age. The correct English form is linkage, spelled L-I-N-K-A-G-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    A mechanical device that connects things.
  2. 2
    A connection or relation between things or ideas.
  3. 3
    The act or result of linking: the combination of multiple object files into one executable, library, or object file.
  4. 4
    The property of genes of being inherited together.
  5. 5
    A set of definitely related languages for which no proto-language can be derived, typically a group of languages within a family that have formed a sprachbund.
  6. 6
    A United States foreign policy, during the 1970s détente in the Cold War, of persuading the Soviet Union to co-operate in restraining revolutions in the Third World in return for nuclear and economic concessions.

Etymology

From link + -age.

This word in other languages

ligamiento(Español)timonerie(Français)Kopplung(Deutsch)ligamento(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ilnkage,liknage,linakge,linkaeg,linkagge,linkgae,linkkage,linnkage,llinkage,lnikage

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

ilnkage2liknage2linakge2linkaeg2linkagge1linkgae2linkkage1linnkage1
Edit distance from "linkage"

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 "linkage"?
"linkage" is spelled L-I-N-K-A-G-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈlɪŋkɪdʒ/.
What does "linkage" mean?
As a noun, "linkage" means: A mechanical device that connects things.
What words are commonly confused with "linkage"?
"linkage" is commonly confused with "lineage", "leakage", "lineages". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "linkage"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "linkage" is /ˈlɪŋkɪdʒ/. 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 "linkage"?
From link + -age. 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 “linkage”

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

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