moxie

/ˈmɒksi/

//ˈmɒksi// noun

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

"moxie" is a 5-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“moxie” is uncommon English (frequency #50,083 among 36,575 “M” headwords), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#50,083
frequency rank, English
36,575
“M” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Nerve, spunk, strength of character.

Key facts for moxie
PropertyValue
Headwordmoxie
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈmɒksi/
Letters5
Frequency rank#50,083
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “moxie” 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). moxie lands here:

#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

moxie is uncommon English at frequency #50,083 among 36,575 “M” headwords, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈmɒksi/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 3 senses are on record.

We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for moxie, a sign its spelling follows regular English conventions. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, a sign it's visually distinctive enough not to be mixed up with another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: First recorded use in 1930. From the name of an American soft drink Moxie made since 1885 to which advertisement ascribed many beneficial properties directly but also indirectly by using the same name as a patent medicine first manufactured in 1878. The wor… The correct English form is moxie, spelled M-O-X-I-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    Nerve, spunk, strength of character.
  2. 2
    Verve.
  3. 3
    Wit, smarts, skill.

Etymology

First recorded use in 1930. From the name of an American soft drink Moxie made since 1885 to which advertisement ascribed many beneficial properties directly but also indirectly by using the same name as a patent medicine first manufactured in 1878. The word appears in very many place names in Maine, especially of falls and ponds, as well as the local name of a plant, the moxie-plum, and is perhaps ultimately from an Abenaki word meaning 'dark water' or an Algonquian root maski- meaning 'herbal infusion'.

This word in other languages

espíritu(Español)tripes(Français)Mumm(Deutsch)

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 "moxie"?
"moxie" is spelled M-O-X-I-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈmɒksi/.
What does "moxie" mean?
As a noun, "moxie" means: Nerve, spunk, strength of character.
How do you pronounce "moxie"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "moxie" is /ˈmɒksi/. 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 "moxie"?
First recorded use in 1930. From the name of an American soft drink Moxie made since 1885 to which advertisement ascribed many beneficial properties directly but also indirectly by using the same name as a patent medicine first manufactured in 187... 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 “moxie”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is M-O-X-I-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈmɒksi/ (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.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list