nutcase

/ˈnʌtkeɪs/

//ˈnʌtkeɪs// noun

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

The verdict

“nutcase” is an uncommon English word, ranked #55,619 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#55,619
frequency rank, English
7
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - An eccentric or odd person.

Key facts for nutcase
PropertyValue
Headwordnutcase
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈnʌtkeɪs/
Letters7
Frequency rank#55,619
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “nutcase” 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). nutcase 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 nutcase is 7 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈnʌtkeɪs/. Corpus data places it at rank #55,619 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 2 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our edit-distance generator produced no likely misspellings for nutcase, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.

Etymologically, the entry records: From nut + case. Compare headcase, mental case etc. The correct English form is nutcase, spelled N-U-T-C-A-S-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    An eccentric or odd person.
  2. 2
    Someone who is insane.

Etymology

From nut + case. Compare headcase, mental case etc.

Synonyms

This word in other languages

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 "nutcase"?
"nutcase" is spelled N-U-T-C-A-S-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈnʌtkeɪs/.
What does "nutcase" mean?
As a noun, "nutcase" means: An eccentric or odd person.
How do you pronounce "nutcase"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "nutcase" is /ˈnʌtkeɪs/. 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 "nutcase"?
From nut + case. Compare headcase, mental case etc. 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 “nutcase”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is N-U-T-C-A-S-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈnʌtkeɪs/ (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.

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

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