network

Name: network, English Word Data
Creator: Wiktionary
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

/ˈnɛt.wɜːk/

//ˈnɛt.wɜːk// noun

By PlainSpell Editorial Team · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) · analyzed May 6, 2026

The verdict

“network” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #1,023 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#1,023
frequency rank, English: 7
letters: 11
tracked misspellings: 2
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Any interconnected group or system.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

network vs Newark

57% similar

network vs networks

88% similar

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

Key facts for network
Property	Value
Headword	network
Language	English
Part of speech	Noun
IPA	/ˈnɛt.wɜːk/
Letters	7
Frequency rank	#1,023
Misspellings tracked	11
Confusable pairs	2
Source	Wiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “network” 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). network lands here:

#1,023

#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 network is 7 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈnɛt.wɜːk/. Corpus data places it at rank #1,023 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 5 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 network, with forms such as "entwork", "netowrk", and "nettwork". 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 2 confusable-pair relationships, "Newark", "networks", where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *neHd- Proto-Indo-European *-yós Proto-Germanic *natją Proto-West Germanic *nati Old English nett Middle English net English net Proto-Indo-European *werǵ- Proto-Indo-European *-om Proto-Indo-European *wérǵom Proto-Germani… The correct English form is network, spelled N-E-T-W-O-R-K.

Definition

1
Any interconnected group or system.
2
Any interconnected group or system.
3
Any interconnected group or system.
4
Any interconnected group or system.
5
A fabric or structure of fibrous elements attached to each other at regular intervals; the act or process of making such an object.

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *neHd- Proto-Indo-European *-yós Proto-Germanic *natją Proto-West Germanic *nati Old English nett Middle English net English net Proto-Indo-European *werǵ- Proto-Indo-European *-om Proto-Indo-European *wérǵom Proto-Germanic *werką Proto-West Germanic *werk Old English weorc Middle English werk English work English network From net + work; the nonliteral sense and its subsenses are extended from the literal sense; they are now the dominant senses. Cognate with German Netzwerk.

This word in other languages

red(Español)tissus(Français)Netz(Deutsch)rede(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: entwork,netowrk,nettwork,netwokr,networkk,networrk,netwrok,netwwork,newtork,nnetwork,ntework

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

Edit distance from "network"

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 "network"?

"network" is spelled N-E-T-W-O-R-K. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈnɛt.wɜːk/.

What does "network" mean?

As a noun, "network" means: Any interconnected group or system.

What words are commonly confused with "network"?

"network" is commonly confused with "Newark", "networks". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.

How do you pronounce "network"?

The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "network" is /ˈnɛt.wɜːk/. 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 "network"?

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 “network”

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

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