ordeal

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

/ɔːˈdiːl/

//ɔːˈdiːl// noun

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

The verdict

“ordeal” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #15,671 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#15,671
frequency rank, English: 6
letters: 8
tracked misspellings: 9
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A trial in which the accused was subjected to a dangerous test (such as ducking in water), divine authority deciding the guilt of the accused.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

ordeal vs order

67% similar

ordeal vs oreal

83% similar

ordeal vs orders

67% similar

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

Key facts for ordeal
Property	Value
Headword	ordeal
Language	English
Part of speech	Noun
IPA	/ɔːˈdiːl/
Letters	6
Frequency rank	#15,671
Misspellings tracked	8
Confusable pairs	9
Source	Wiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “ordeal” 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). ordeal lands here:

#15,671

#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 ordeal is 6 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɔːˈdiːl/. Corpus data places it at rank #15,671 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 8 likely wrong-spelling variants for ordeal, with forms such as "odreal", "ordael", and "orddeal". 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. It also participates in 9 confusable-pair relationships, "order", "oreal", "orders", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English ordel, ordal, from Medieval Latin ordālium or inherited from its source Old English ordēl, ordāl (“ordeal, judgement”), from Proto-West Germanic *uʀdailī (“judgement”, literally “an out-dealing”), from *uʀdailijan (“to deal out; dispense… The correct English form is ordeal, spelled O-R-D-E-A-L.

Definition

1
A trial in which the accused was subjected to a dangerous test (such as ducking in water), divine authority deciding the guilt of the accused.
2
A painful or trying experience.
3
The poisonous ordeal bean or Calabar bean.

Etymology

From Middle English ordel, ordal, from Medieval Latin ordālium or inherited from its source Old English ordēl, ordāl (“ordeal, judgement”), from Proto-West Germanic *uʀdailī (“judgement”, literally “an out-dealing”), from *uʀdailijan (“to deal out; dispense”). For more, see Old English or-, English deal. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Uurdeel (“judgement; verdict”), West Frisian oardiel (“judgement”), Dutch oordeel (“judgement, discretion”), Low German Oordeel (“judgement; verdict”), German Urteil (“judgement, verdict”).

This word in other languages

ordalía(Español)ordalie(Français)Gottesurteil(Deutsch)calvário(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: odreal,ordael,orddeal,ordeall,ordela,oredal,orrdeal,rodeal

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of ordeal - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

Edit distance from "ordeal"

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 "ordeal"?

"ordeal" is spelled O-R-D-E-A-L. The IPA pronunciation is /ɔːˈdiːl/.

What does "ordeal" mean?

As a noun, "ordeal" means: A trial in which the accused was subjected to a dangerous test (such as ducking in water), divine authority deciding the guilt of the accused.

What words are commonly confused with "ordeal"?

"ordeal" is commonly confused with "order", "oreal", "orders". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.

How do you pronounce "ordeal"?

The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "ordeal" is /ɔːˈdiːl/. 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 "ordeal"?

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 “ordeal”

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

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