parameter

/pəˈɹæm.ɪ.tə/

//pəˈɹæm.ɪ.tə// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"parameter" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“parameter” has 13 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #13,580. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#13,580
frequency rank, English
46,516
“P” headwords
13
tracked misspellings
1
confusable pair

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A value kept constant during an experiment, equation, calculation, or similar, but varied over other versions of the experiment, equation, calculation, etc.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

parameter vs perimeter
78% similar

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

Key facts for parameter
PropertyValue
Headwordparameter
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/pəˈɹæm.ɪ.tə/
Letters9
Frequency rank#13,580
Misspellings tracked13
Confusable pairs1
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “parameter” 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). parameter lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 13 spelling variants around parameter (IPA /pəˈɹæm.ɪ.tə/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #13,580 among 46,516 “P” headwords. Wiktionary lists 11 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 13 likely wrong-spelling variants for parameter, with forms such as "aprameter", "paarmeter", and "paraemter". 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 1 confusable-pair relationship, "perimeter", a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: From French paramètre, from New Latin parametrum (“parameter”), from Ancient Greek παρα- (para-, “beside”) + μέτρον (métron, “measure”). The correct English form is parameter, spelled P-A-R-A-M-E-T-E-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    A value kept constant during an experiment, equation, calculation, or similar, but varied over other versions of the experiment, equation, calculation, etc.
  2. 2
    A variable that describes a property or characteristic of some system (material, object, event, etc.) or some aspect thereof.
  3. 3
    A variable that describes a property or characteristic of some system (material, object, event, etc.) or some aspect thereof.
  4. 4
    A variable that describes a property or characteristic of some system (material, object, event, etc.) or some aspect thereof.
  5. 5
    An input variable of a function definition, that gets an actual value (argument) at execution time.
  6. 6
    An actual value given to such a formal parameter.
  7. 7
    A characteristic or feature that distinguishes something from others.
  8. 8
    In the ellipse and hyperbola, a third proportional to any diameter and its conjugate, or in the parabola, to any abscissa and the corresponding ordinate.
  9. 9
    Clipping of uniformizing parameter.
  10. 10
    The ratio of the three crystallographic axes which determines the position of any plane.
  11. 11
    The fundamental axial ratio for a given species.

Etymology

From French paramètre, from New Latin parametrum (“parameter”), from Ancient Greek παρα- (para-, “beside”) + μέτρον (métron, “measure”).

This word in other languages

parámetro(Español)paramètre(Français)Parameter(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • aprameter
  • paarmeter
  • paraemter
  • parameetr
  • parameterr
  • parametre
  • parametter
  • parammeter
  • paramteer
  • parmaeter
  • parrameter
  • pparameter
  • praameter

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

aprameter2paarmeter2paraemter2parameetr2parameterr1parametre2parametter1parammeter1
Edit distance from "parameter"

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 "parameter"?
"parameter" is spelled P-A-R-A-M-E-T-E-R. The IPA pronunciation is /pəˈɹæm.ɪ.tə/.
What does "parameter" mean?
As a noun, "parameter" means: A value kept constant during an experiment, equation, calculation, or similar, but varied over other versions of the experiment, equation, calculation, etc.
What words are commonly confused with "parameter"?
"parameter" is commonly confused with "perimeter". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "parameter"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "parameter" is /pəˈɹæm.ɪ.tə/. 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 "parameter"?
From French paramètre, from New Latin parametrum (“parameter”), from Ancient Greek παρα- (para-, “beside”) + μέτρον (métron, “measure”). 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 “parameter”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is P-A-R-A-M-E-T-E-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /pəˈɹæm.ɪ.tə/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “perimeter” - see the side-by-side comparison. parameter vs perimeter
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Same frequency band

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