monitor

/ˈmɒn.ɪ.tə/

//ˈmɒn.ɪ.tə// noun

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

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

The verdict

“monitor” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #3,829 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#3,829
frequency rank, English
7
letters
10
tracked misspellings
5
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Someone who watches over something; a person in charge of something or someone.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

monitor vs motor
71% similar
monitor vs monster
71% similar
monitor vs mentor
71% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for monitor
PropertyValue
Headwordmonitor
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈmɒn.ɪ.tə/
Letters7
Frequency rank#3,829
Misspellings tracked10
Confusable pairs5
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “monitor” 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). monitor lands here:

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

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

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for monitor is 7 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈmɒn.ɪ.tə/. Corpus data places it at rank #3,829 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 13 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 10 likely wrong-spelling variants for monitor, with forms such as "mmonitor", "mnoitor", and "mointor". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 5 confusable-pair relationships, "motor", "monster", "mentor", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Latin monitor (“warner”), from perfect passive participle monitus (“warning”), from verb monere (“to warn, admonish, remind”). Warship sense is from USS Monitor, the first ship of this type. The correct English form is monitor, spelled M-O-N-I-T-O-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    Someone who watches over something; a person in charge of something or someone.
  2. 2
    A device that detects and informs on the presence, quantity, etc., of something.
  3. 3
    A device similar to a television set used as to give a graphical display of the output from a computer.
  4. 4
    A studio monitor or loudspeaker.
  5. 5
    A program for viewing and editing.
  6. 6
    The command line interface of an operating system.
  7. 7
    A student leader in a class.
  8. 8
    A relatively small armored warship with only one or two turrets (but often carrying unusually large guns for a warship of its size), usually designed for shore bombardment or riverine warfare rather than open-ocean combat.
  9. 9
    A monitor lizard (Varanus spp. and extinct relatives in family Varanidae).
  10. 10
    A tool holder, as for a lathe, shaped like a low turret, and capable of being revolved on a vertical pivot so as to bring several tools successively into position.
  11. 11
    A monitor nozzle.
  12. 12
    One who admonishes; one who warns of faults, informs of duty, or gives advice and instruction by way of reproof or caution.
  13. 13
    An ironclad.

Etymology

From Latin monitor (“warner”), from perfect passive participle monitus (“warning”), from verb monere (“to warn, admonish, remind”). Warship sense is from USS Monitor, the first ship of this type.

This word in other languages

monitor(Español)moniteur(Français)Aufpasser(Deutsch)monitor(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: mmonitor,mnoitor,mointor,moniotr,monitorr,monitro,monittor,monnitor,montior,omnitor

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of monitor - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

mmonitor1mnoitor2mointor2moniotr2monitorr1monitro2monittor1monnitor1
Edit distance from "monitor"

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 "monitor"?
"monitor" is spelled M-O-N-I-T-O-R. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈmɒn.ɪ.tə/.
What does "monitor" mean?
As a noun, "monitor" means: Someone who watches over something; a person in charge of something or someone.
What words are commonly confused with "monitor"?
"monitor" is commonly confused with "motor", "monster", "mentor". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "monitor"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "monitor" is /ˈmɒn.ɪ.tə/. 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 "monitor"?
From Latin monitor (“warner”), from perfect passive participle monitus (“warning”), from verb monere (“to warn, admonish, remind”). Warship sense is from USS Monitor, the first ship of this type. 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 “monitor”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is M-O-N-I-T-O-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈmɒn.ɪ.tə/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “motor” - see the side-by-side comparison. monitor vs motor
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
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