pattern

/ˈpæ̞t(ə)n/

//ˈpæ̞t(ə)n// noun

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

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

The verdict

“pattern” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #2,691 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#2,691
frequency rank, English
7
letters
9
tracked misspellings
12
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Model, example.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

pattern vs potter
71% similar
pattern vs Patton
57% similar
pattern vs putter
71% similar

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

Key facts for pattern
PropertyValue
Headwordpattern
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈpæ̞t(ə)n/
Letters7
Frequency rank#2,691
Misspellings tracked9
Confusable pairs12
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “pattern” 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). pattern 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 pattern is 7 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈpæ̞t(ə)n/. Corpus data places it at rank #2,691 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 20 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 9 likely wrong-spelling variants for pattern, with forms such as "apttern", "patern", and "patetrn". 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 12 confusable-pair relationships, "potter", "Patton", "putter", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From earlier patten, paterne, from Middle English patron (“patron; example”), from Old French patron, from Medieval Latin patrōnus (“patron”). Doublet of padrone, patron, Patronus, and patroon. The correct English form is pattern, spelled P-A-T-T-E-R-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    Model, example.
  2. 2
    Model, example.
  3. 3
    Model, example.
  4. 4
    Model, example.
  5. 5
    Model, example.
  6. 6
    Model, example.
  7. 7
    Model, example.
  8. 8
    Model, example.
  9. 9
    Model, example.
  10. 10
    Model, example.
  11. 11
    Coherent or decorative arrangement.
  12. 12
    Coherent or decorative arrangement.
  13. 13
    Coherent or decorative arrangement.
  14. 14
    Coherent or decorative arrangement.
  15. 15
    Coherent or decorative arrangement.
  16. 16
    Coherent or decorative arrangement.
  17. 17
    Coherent or decorative arrangement.
  18. 18
    Coherent or decorative arrangement.
  19. 19
    A wont or habit to cause an annoyance or bother; to stir up trouble
  20. 20
    The devotions that take place within a parish on the feast day of the patron saint of that parish.

Etymology

From earlier patten, paterne, from Middle English patron (“patron; example”), from Old French patron, from Medieval Latin patrōnus (“patron”). Doublet of padrone, patron, Patronus, and patroon.

Synonyms

345

Antonyms

antipattern

This word in other languages

patrón(Español)modèle(Français)Muster(Deutsch)molde(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: apttern,patern,patetrn,pattenr,patternn,patterrn,pattren,ppattern,ptatern

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of pattern - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

apttern2patern1patetrn2pattenr2patternn1patterrn1pattren2ppattern1
Edit distance from "pattern"

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 "pattern"?
"pattern" is spelled P-A-T-T-E-R-N. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈpæ̞t(ə)n/.
What does "pattern" mean?
As a noun, "pattern" means: Model, example.
What words are commonly confused with "pattern"?
"pattern" is commonly confused with "potter", "Patton", "putter". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "pattern"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "pattern" is /ˈpæ̞t(ə)n/. 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 "pattern"?
From earlier patten, paterne, from Middle English patron (“patron; example”), from Old French patron, from Medieval Latin patrōnus (“patron”). Doublet of padrone, patron, Patronus, and patroon. 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 “pattern”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is P-A-T-T-E-R-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈpæ̞t(ə)n/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “potter” - see the side-by-side comparison. pattern vs potter
  • 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