lynch

/lɪnt͡ʃ/

//lɪnt͡ʃ// verb

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

"lynch" is a 5-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“lynch” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #7,812 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#7,812
frequency rank, English
5
letters
9
tracked misspellings
12
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To execute (somebody) without a proper legal trial or procedure, especially by hanging and backed by a mob.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

lynch vs Lynn
40% similar
lynch vs lynx
60% similar
lynch vs lyn
60% similar

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

Key facts for lynch
PropertyValue
Headwordlynch
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/lɪnt͡ʃ/
Letters5
Frequency rank#7,812
Misspellings tracked9
Confusable pairs12
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “lynch” 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). lynch 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 lynch is 5 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /lɪnt͡ʃ/. Corpus data places it at rank #7,812 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 2 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 9 likely wrong-spelling variants for lynch, with forms such as "llynch", "lnych", and "lycnh". 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 12 confusable-pair relationships, "Lynn", "lynx", "lyn", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: First attested 1835, from Lynch law, which appeared in 1811. There is a popular claim that it was named after William Lynch, but equally strong arguments would have it named after Charles Lynch. For the surname, see Lynch. Ultimately a possible doublet of l… The correct English form is lynch, spelled L-Y-N-C-H.

Definition

  1. 1
    To execute (somebody) without a proper legal trial or procedure, especially by hanging and backed by a mob.
  2. 2
    To castigate severely.

Etymology

First attested 1835, from Lynch law, which appeared in 1811. There is a popular claim that it was named after William Lynch, but equally strong arguments would have it named after Charles Lynch. For the surname, see Lynch. Ultimately a possible doublet of linch.

Synonyms

string up

This word in other languages

linchar(Español)lyncher(Français)lynchen(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: llynch,lnych,lycnh,lyncch,lynchh,lynhc,lynnch,lyynch,ylnch

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

llynch1lnych2lycnh2lyncch1lynchh1lynhc2lynnch1lyynch1
Edit distance from "lynch"

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 "lynch"?
"lynch" is spelled L-Y-N-C-H. The IPA pronunciation is /lɪnt͡ʃ/.
What does "lynch" mean?
As a verb, "lynch" means: To execute (somebody) without a proper legal trial or procedure, especially by hanging and backed by a mob.
What words are commonly confused with "lynch"?
"lynch" is commonly confused with "Lynn", "lynx", "lyn". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "lynch"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "lynch" is /lɪnt͡ʃ/. 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 "lynch"?
First attested 1835, from Lynch law, which appeared in 1811. There is a popular claim that it was named after William Lynch, but equally strong arguments would have it named after Charles Lynch. For the surname, see Lynch. Ultimately a possible do... 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 “lynch”

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

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