mumpsimus
/ˈmʌmpsɪməs/
"mumpsimus" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“mumpsimus” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 9
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A person who obstinately adheres to old ways in spite of clear evidence that they are wrong; an ignorant and bigoted opponent of reform.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | mumpsimus |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Noun |
| IPA | /ˈmʌmpsɪməs/ |
| Letters | 9 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “mumpsimus” sits in English frequency
Rare enough to double-check
mumpsimus is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈmʌmpsɪməs/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 2 senses are on record.
We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for mumpsimus, since its letter sequence doesn't invite the usual edit-distance slips. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.
Etymologically, the entry records: Malapropism of Latin sumpsimus, form of sūmō (“I take”), from a story of an old monk who misrecited the Eucharist with quod in ōre mumpsimus instead of quod in ōre sumpsimus “which we have taken into the mouth”, and stubbornly continued using the incorrect … The correct English form is mumpsimus, spelled M-U-M-P-S-I-M-U-S.
Definition
- 1A person who obstinately adheres to old ways in spite of clear evidence that they are wrong; an ignorant and bigoted opponent of reform.
- 2An obvious error that is obstinately repeated despite correction.
Etymology
Malapropism of Latin sumpsimus, form of sūmō (“I take”), from a story of an old monk who misrecited the Eucharist with quod in ōre mumpsimus instead of quod in ōre sumpsimus “which we have taken into the mouth”, and stubbornly continued using the incorrect form even after being corrected. Attested 1530 in The Practice of Prelates by William Tyndale, variously attributed to Richard Pace (1517) or Desiderius Erasmus.
Antonyms
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Using “mumpsimus”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is M-U-M-P-S-I-M-U-S - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /ˈmʌmpsɪməs/ (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
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.