macula

/ˈmækjʊlə/

//ˈmækjʊlə// noun

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

"macula" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“macula” is uncommon English (frequency #78,799 among 36,575 “M” headwords), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#78,799
frequency rank, English
36,575
“M” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - An oval yellow spot near the center of the retina of the human eye, histologically defined as having two or more layers of ganglion cells, responsible for detailed central vision.

Key facts for macula
PropertyValue
Headwordmacula
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈmækjʊlə/
Letters6
Frequency rank#78,799
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “macula” 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). macula lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

macula is uncommon English at frequency #78,799 among 36,575 “M” headwords, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈmækjʊlə/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 5 senses are on record.

Zero misspellings are on record for macula in our index, which points to an orthography that plays by predictable English rules. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English macula (“spot on the skin or in the eye”), borrowed from Latin macula (“spot, stain”). Doublet of macchia and macule. The correct English form is macula, spelled M-A-C-U-L-A.

Definition

  1. 1
    An oval yellow spot near the center of the retina of the human eye, histologically defined as having two or more layers of ganglion cells, responsible for detailed central vision.
  2. 2
    A small chamber of the inner ear of certain vertebrates filled with endolymph and containing an otolith.
  3. 3
    A spot, as on the skin, or on the surface of the sun or of some other luminous orb.
  4. 4
    A rather large spot or blotch of color.
  5. 5
    In planetary geology, an unusually dark area on the surface of a planet or moon.

Etymology

From Middle English macula (“spot on the skin or in the eye”), borrowed from Latin macula (“spot, stain”). Doublet of macchia and macule.

This word in other languages

macula(Français)mácula(Português)

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 "macula"?
"macula" is spelled M-A-C-U-L-A. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈmækjʊlə/.
What does "macula" mean?
As a noun, "macula" means: An oval yellow spot near the center of the retina of the human eye, histologically defined as having two or more layers of ganglion cells, responsible for detailed central vision.
How do you pronounce "macula"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "macula" is /ˈmækjʊlə/. 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 "macula"?
From Middle English macula (“spot on the skin or in the eye”), borrowed from Latin macula (“spot, stain”). Doublet of macchia and macule. 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 “macula”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is M-A-C-U-L-A - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈmækjʊlə/ (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

Other uncommon English words near this rank

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