molybdenum

/məˈlɪbdɪnəm/

//məˈlɪbdɪnəm// noun

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

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

The verdict

“molybdenum” has 16 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #39,918. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#39,918
frequency rank, English
36,575
“M” headwords
16
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A chemical element (symbol Mo) with an atomic number of 42: a silvery metal, not found as a free element, used in steel alloys.

Key facts for molybdenum
PropertyValue
Headwordmolybdenum
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/məˈlɪbdɪnəm/
Letters10
Frequency rank#39,918
Misspellings tracked16
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “molybdenum” 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). molybdenum 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 16 spelling variants around molybdenum (IPA /məˈlɪbdɪnəm/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #39,918 among 36,575 “M” headwords. Wiktionary lists 2 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 16 likely wrong-spelling variants for molybdenum, with forms such as "mloybdenum", "mmolybdenum", and "molbydenum". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. 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: From New Latin molybdaenum, from molybdaena (“any of various substances resembling lead”), from Ancient Greek μολύβδαινα (molúbdaina, “a plummet, piece of lead”), from μόλυβδος (mólubdos, “lead; graphite”), from an Anatolian word cognate with Lydian 𐤪𐤠𐤭�… The correct English form is molybdenum, spelled M-O-L-Y-B-D-E-N-U-M.

Definition

  1. 1
    A chemical element (symbol Mo) with an atomic number of 42: a silvery metal, not found as a free element, used in steel alloys.
  2. 2
    A single atom of this element.

Etymology

From New Latin molybdaenum, from molybdaena (“any of various substances resembling lead”), from Ancient Greek μολύβδαινα (molúbdaina, “a plummet, piece of lead”), from μόλυβδος (mólubdos, “lead; graphite”), from an Anatolian word cognate with Lydian 𐤪𐤠𐤭𐤦𐤥𐤣𐤠 (mariwda, “dark”), from Proto-Indo-European *morkʷ-iyo-, from a root *morkʷ- (“dark”), cognate with English murk. Cf. Latin plumbum nigrum 'lead'. The suffix is + -um (“a chemical element”). Attested since the last quarter of 18th century.

This word in other languages

molibdeno(Español)molybdène(Français)Molybdän(Deutsch)molibdénio(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • mloybdenum
  • mmolybdenum
  • molbydenum
  • mollybdenum
  • molybbdenum
  • molybddenum
  • molybdenmu
  • molybdennum
  • molybdenumm
  • molybdeunm
  • molybdneum
  • molybednum
  • molydbenum
  • molyybdenum
  • moylbdenum
  • omlybdenum

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

mloybdenum2mmolybdenum1molbydenum2mollybdenum1molybbdenum1molybddenum1molybdenmu2molybdennum1
Edit distance from "molybdenum"

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 "molybdenum"?
"molybdenum" is spelled M-O-L-Y-B-D-E-N-U-M. The IPA pronunciation is /məˈlɪbdɪnəm/.
What does "molybdenum" mean?
As a noun, "molybdenum" means: A chemical element (symbol Mo) with an atomic number of 42: a silvery metal, not found as a free element, used in steel alloys.
What are common misspellings of "molybdenum"?
Common misspellings include "mloybdenum", "mmolybdenum", "molbydenum", "mollybdenum", "molybbdenum". The correct spelling is "molybdenum".
How do you pronounce "molybdenum"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "molybdenum" is /məˈlɪbdɪnəm/. 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 "molybdenum"?
From New Latin molybdaenum, from molybdaena (“any of various substances resembling lead”), from Ancient Greek μολύβδαινα (molúbdaina, “a plummet, piece of lead”), from μόλυβδος (mólubdos, “lead; graphite”), from an Anatolian word cognate with Lydi... 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 “molybdenum”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is M-O-L-Y-B-D-E-N-U-M - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /məˈlɪbdɪnəm/ (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