odometer

/əʊˈdɒmətə/

//əʊˈdɒmətə// noun

"odometer" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“odometer” is an uncommon English word, ranked #56,333 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#56,333
frequency rank, English
8
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - An instrument, usually embedded within the speedometer of a vehicle, that measures the distance the vehicle has traveled since production.

Key facts for odometer
PropertyValue
Headwordodometer
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/əʊˈdɒmətə/
Letters8
Frequency rank#56,333
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “odometer” 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). odometer 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 odometer is 8 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /əʊˈdɒmətə/. Corpus data places it at rank #56,333 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.

Zero misspellings are on record for odometer in our index, a sign its spelling follows regular English conventions. 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: From French odomètre, from Ancient Greek ὁδός (hodós, “road, path, way”) + μέτρον (métron, “measure”), equivalent to odo- + -meter. The correct English form is odometer, spelled O-D-O-M-E-T-E-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    An instrument, usually embedded within the speedometer of a vehicle, that measures the distance the vehicle has traveled since production.
  2. 2
    A wheel used by surveyors, which registers distance traveled.

Etymology

From French odomètre, from Ancient Greek ὁδός (hodós, “road, path, way”) + μέτρον (métron, “measure”), equivalent to odo- + -meter.

Synonyms

odograph

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 "odometer"?
"odometer" is spelled O-D-O-M-E-T-E-R. The IPA pronunciation is /əʊˈdɒmətə/.
What does "odometer" mean?
As a noun, "odometer" means: An instrument, usually embedded within the speedometer of a vehicle, that measures the distance the vehicle has traveled since production.
How do you pronounce "odometer"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "odometer" is /əʊˈdɒmətə/. 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 "odometer"?
From French odomètre, from Ancient Greek ὁδός (hodós, “road, path, way”) + μέτρον (métron, “measure”), equivalent to odo- + -meter. 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 “odometer”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is O-D-O-M-E-T-E-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /əʊˈdɒmətə/ (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