Mach number

noun

"mach-number" is a 10-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“Mach number” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
11
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - The ratio of the speed of a body to that of sound in the surrounding medium.

Corpus desk

Index EN-mach-number · Mach number · English

Mach number · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
  • LEN-MEGA 11 letters
  • VOW-3 3 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-THIN "M" thin
  • PHOTO-UNK Peer pending

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Key facts for Mach number
PropertyValue
HeadwordMach number
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
Letters11
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “Mach number” in English

Mach numberranks outside the top 100,000 English headwords, in the long tail of specialist, archaic, or seldom-used vocabulary, exactly the territory where a reader stops mid-sentence to double-check spelling.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

Mach number is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as anoun. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. Gloss: "The ratio of the speed of a body to that of sound in the surrounding medium.".

We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for Mach number, a straightforward case of a spelling with little room for common typos. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: After physicist Ernst Mach. The correct English form is Mach number, spelled M-A-C-H- -N-U-M-B-E-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    The ratio of the speed of a body to that of sound in the surrounding medium.

Etymology

After physicist Ernst Mach.

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "Mach number"?
"Mach number" is spelled M-A-C-H- -N-U-M-B-E-R.
What does "Mach number" mean?
As a noun, "Mach number" means: The ratio of the speed of a body to that of sound in the surrounding medium.
What is the origin of the word "Mach number"?
After physicist Ernst Mach. 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.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list