mailbox

/ˈmeɪl.bɑks/

//ˈmeɪl.bɑks// noun

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

The verdict

“mailbox” has 10 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #19,385. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#19,385
frequency rank, English
36,575
“M” headwords
10
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A box into which mail is placed.

Key facts for mailbox
PropertyValue
Headwordmailbox
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈmeɪl.bɑks/
Letters7
Frequency rank#19,385
Misspellings tracked10
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “mailbox” 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). mailbox lands here:

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

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

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 10 spelling variants around mailbox (IPA /ˈmeɪl.bɑks/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #19,385 among 36,575 “M” headwords. Wiktionary lists 3 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 10 likely wrong-spelling variants for mailbox, with forms such as "amilbox", "maiblox", and "mailbbox". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, which typically means the spelling is too distinctive to be mistaken for another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: From mail + box. The correct English form is mailbox, spelled M-A-I-L-B-O-X.

Definition

  1. 1
    A box into which mail is placed.
  2. 2
    A box into which mail is placed.
  3. 3
    A folder or account for the storage of email; an electronic inbox or mailstore.

Etymology

From mail + box.

Synonyms

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: amilbox,maiblox,mailbbox,mailboxx,mailbxo,maillbox,mailobx,malibox,mialbox,mmailbox

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

amilbox2maiblox2mailbbox1mailboxx1mailbxo2maillbox1mailobx2malibox2
Edit distance from "mailbox"

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 "mailbox"?
"mailbox" is spelled M-A-I-L-B-O-X. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈmeɪl.bɑks/.
What does "mailbox" mean?
As a noun, "mailbox" means: A box into which mail is placed.
What are common misspellings of "mailbox"?
Common misspellings include "amilbox", "maiblox", "mailbbox", "mailboxx", "mailbxo". The correct spelling is "mailbox".
How do you pronounce "mailbox"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "mailbox" is /ˈmeɪl.bɑks/. 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 "mailbox"?
From mail + box. 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 “mailbox”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is M-A-I-L-B-O-X - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈmeɪl.bɑks/ (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

Same frequency band

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