marmoset

Name: marmoset, English Word Data
Creator: Wiktionary
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

/ˈmɑɹməsət/

//ˈmɑɹməsət// noun

By PlainSpell · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) · analyzed May 6, 2026

The verdict

“marmoset” is uncommon English (frequency #89,604 among 36,575 “M” headwords), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#89,604
frequency rank, English: 36,575
“M” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Any small monkey, now specifically a Central and South American monkey of the genera Callithrix, Mico, Cebuella, and Callibella, with claws instead of nails, and a rather primitive layout.

Key facts for marmoset
Property	Value
Headword	marmoset
Language	English
Part of speech	Noun
IPA	/ˈmɑɹməsət/
Letters	8
Frequency rank	#89,604
Misspellings tracked	0
Confusable pairs	0
Source	Wiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “marmoset” 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). marmoset lands here:

#89,604

#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

marmoset is uncommon English at frequency #89,604 among 36,575 “M” headwords, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈmɑɹməsət/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 3 senses are on record.

marmoset doesn't appear in our generated misspelling index, suggesting the orthography follows predictable English patterns. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from Middle French marmouset (“gargoyle; small child”), probably from marmouser (“to mumble”), of imitative origin. The correct English form is marmoset, spelled M-A-R-M-O-S-E-T.

Definition

1
Any small monkey, now specifically a Central and South American monkey of the genera Callithrix, Mico, Cebuella, and Callibella, with claws instead of nails, and a rather primitive layout.
2
A hideous figure; a grotesque.
3
An unappealing or foolish man.

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French marmouset (“gargoyle; small child”), probably from marmouser (“to mumble”), of imitative origin.

This word in other languages

tití(Español)ouistiti(Français)

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 "marmoset"?

"marmoset" is spelled M-A-R-M-O-S-E-T. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈmɑɹməsət/.

What does "marmoset" mean?

As a noun, "marmoset" means: Any small monkey, now specifically a Central and South American monkey of the genera Callithrix, Mico, Cebuella, and Callibella, with claws instead of nails, and a rather primitive layout.

How do you pronounce "marmoset"?

The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "marmoset" is /ˈmɑɹməsət/. 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 "marmoset"?

Borrowed from Middle French marmouset (“gargoyle; small child”), probably from marmouser (“to mumble”), of imitative origin. 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 “marmoset”

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

The one correct English spelling is M-A-R-M-O-S-E-T - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
Say it as /ˈmɑɹməsət/ (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.