notwithstanding
/ˌnɒtwɪðˈstændɪŋ/
"notwithstanding" is a 15-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“notwithstanding” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #15,457 in English word frequency and used as an adverb.
- #15,457
- frequency rank, English
- 15
- letters
- 25
- tracked misspellings
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Nevertheless, all the same.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | notwithstanding |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Adverb |
| IPA | /ˌnɒtwɪðˈstændɪŋ/ |
| Letters | 15 |
| Frequency rank | #15,457 |
| Misspellings tracked | 25 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “notwithstanding” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for notwithstanding is 15 letters long, classified as an adverb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˌnɒtwɪðˈstændɪŋ/. Corpus data places it at rank #15,457 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. The dominant gloss from Wiktionary reads: "Nevertheless, all the same.".
Our generated misspelling index lists 25 likely wrong-spelling variants for notwithstanding, with forms such as "nnotwithstanding", "notiwthstanding", and "nottwithstanding". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. Our dataset records no confusable match here, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.
Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English notwithstandinge, notwithstondyng, natwithstandyng, equivalent to not + withstanding. Compare Middle English notgainstonding, not aȝenstondynge, of similar meaning and formation. The correct English form is notwithstanding, spelled N-O-T-W-I-T-H-S-T-A-N-D-I-N-G.
Definition
- 1Nevertheless, all the same.
Etymology
From Middle English notwithstandinge, notwithstondyng, natwithstandyng, equivalent to not + withstanding. Compare Middle English notgainstonding, not aȝenstondynge, of similar meaning and formation.
Common misspellings
Also misspelled as: nnotwithstanding,notiwthstanding,nottwithstanding,notwihtstanding,notwithhstanding,notwithsatnding,notwithsstanding,notwithstadning,notwithstandding,notwithstandign,notwithstandingg,notwithstandinng,notwithstandnig,notwithstanidng,notwithstannding,notwithstnading,notwithsttanding,notwithtsanding,notwitshtanding,notwitthstanding,notwtihstanding,notwwithstanding,nowtithstanding,ntowithstanding,ontwithstanding
Misspelling Pattern Breakdown
How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of notwithstanding - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.
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 "notwithstanding"?
What does "notwithstanding" mean?
What are common misspellings of "notwithstanding"?
How do you pronounce "notwithstanding"?
What is the origin of the word "notwithstanding"?
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Using “notwithstanding”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is N-O-T-W-I-T-H-S-T-A-N-D-I-N-G - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /ˌnɒtwɪðˈstændɪŋ/ (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.