pennon

/ˈpɛnən/

//ˈpɛnən// noun

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

"pennon" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“pennon” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
6
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A thin, often triangular flag or streamer, especially as hung from the end of a lance or spear.

Key facts for pennon
PropertyValue
Headwordpennon
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈpɛnən/
Letters6
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “pennon” sits in English frequency

pennon falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

pennon is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈpɛnən/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 3 senses are on record.

No generated misspelling entries exist for pennon in our index, a sign its spelling follows regular English conventions. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: Inherited from Middle English penoun, pennon, from Anglo-Norman penun, penoun, from Old French penne (“feather”) + -on (diminutive suffix). The correct English form is pennon, spelled P-E-N-N-O-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    A thin, often triangular flag or streamer, especially as hung from the end of a lance or spear.
  2. 2
    A long pointed streamer or flag on a vessel.
  3. 3
    A wing (appendage of an animal's body enabling it to fly); any of the outermost primary feathers on a wing.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English penoun, pennon, from Anglo-Norman penun, penoun, from Old French penne (“feather”) + -on (diminutive suffix).

This word in other languages

pennon(Français)Wimpel(Deutsch)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "pennon"?
"pennon" is spelled P-E-N-N-O-N. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈpɛnən/.
What does "pennon" mean?
As a noun, "pennon" means: A thin, often triangular flag or streamer, especially as hung from the end of a lance or spear.
How do you pronounce "pennon"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "pennon" is /ˈpɛnən/. 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 "pennon"?
Inherited from Middle English penoun, pennon, from Anglo-Norman penun, penoun, from Old French penne (“feather”) + -on (diminutive suffix). 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 “pennon”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is P-E-N-N-O-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈpɛnən/ (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