monster

/ˈmɒnstə(ɹ)/

//ˈmɒnstə(ɹ)// noun

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

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

The verdict

“monster” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #3,074 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#3,074
frequency rank, English
7
letters
11
tracked misspellings
18
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A terrifying and dangerous creature, especially one of an imaginary or mythical kind.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

monster vs monte
71% similar
monster vs moser
71% similar
monster vs muster
71% similar

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

Key facts for monster
PropertyValue
Headwordmonster
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈmɒnstə(ɹ)/
Letters7
Frequency rank#3,074
Misspellings tracked11
Confusable pairs18
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “monster” 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). monster 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 monster is 7 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈmɒnstə(ɹ)/. Corpus data places it at rank #3,074 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 9 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 11 likely wrong-spelling variants for monster, with forms such as "mmonster", "mnoster", and "monnster". 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. It also participates in 18 confusable-pair relationships, "monte", "moser", "muster", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English monstre, from Old French monstre, mostre, moustre, from Latin mōnstrum. The correct English form is monster, spelled M-O-N-S-T-E-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    A terrifying and dangerous creature, especially one of an imaginary or mythical kind.
  2. 2
    A terrifying and dangerous creature, especially one of an imaginary or mythical kind.
  3. 3
    A terrifying and dangerous creature, especially one of an imaginary or mythical kind.
  4. 4
    A terrifying and dangerous creature, especially one of an imaginary or mythical kind.
  5. 5
    A creature of unnatural or highly unusual shape or form (which makes a frightening or unpleasant impression).
  6. 6
    A creature of unnatural or highly unusual shape or form (which makes a frightening or unpleasant impression).
  7. 7
    A creature of unnatural or highly unusual shape or form (which makes a frightening or unpleasant impression).
  8. 8
    A bizarre or whimsical creature.
  9. 9
    A non-player character that player(s) fight against in role-playing games; a mob

Etymology

From Middle English monstre, from Old French monstre, mostre, moustre, from Latin mōnstrum.

Synonyms

monstrosity

This word in other languages

monstruo(Español)monstre(Français)Monster(Deutsch)monstro(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: mmonster,mnoster,monnster,monsetr,monsster,monsterr,monstre,monstter,montser,mosnter,omnster

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of monster - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

mmonster1mnoster2monnster1monsetr2monsster1monsterr1monstre2monstter1
Edit distance from "monster"

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 "monster"?
"monster" is spelled M-O-N-S-T-E-R. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈmɒnstə(ɹ)/.
What does "monster" mean?
As a noun, "monster" means: A terrifying and dangerous creature, especially one of an imaginary or mythical kind.
What words are commonly confused with "monster"?
"monster" is commonly confused with "monte", "moser", "muster". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "monster"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "monster" is /ˈmɒnstə(ɹ)/. 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 "monster"?
From Middle English monstre, from Old French monstre, mostre, moustre, from Latin mōnstrum. 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 “monster”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is M-O-N-S-T-E-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈmɒnstə(ɹ)/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “monte” - see the side-by-side comparison. monster vs monte
  • 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