performance

[pəˈfɔː.məns]

/[pəˈfɔː.məns]/ noun

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

"performance" is a 11-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“performance” is in the everyday core of English, ranked #718 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#718
frequency rank, English
11
letters
18
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The act of performing; carrying into execution or action; execution; achievement; accomplishment; representation by action.

Key facts for performance
PropertyValue
Headwordperformance
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA[pəˈfɔː.məns]
Letters11
Frequency rank#718
Misspellings tracked18
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “performance” 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). performance 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 performance is 11 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as [pəˈfɔː.məns]. Corpus data places it at rank #718 in overall English word frequency, putting it firmly in the everyday core of the language. Wiktionary records 5 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 18 likely wrong-spelling variants for performance, with forms such as "eprformance", "pefrormance", and "perfformance". 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. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English parfourmaunce; equivalent to perform + -ance. The correct English form is performance, spelled P-E-R-F-O-R-M-A-N-C-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    The act of performing; carrying into execution or action; execution; achievement; accomplishment; representation by action.
  2. 2
    That which is performed or accomplished; a thing done or carried through; an achievement; a deed; an act; a feat; especially, an action of an elaborate or public character.
  3. 3
    A live show or concert.
  4. 4
    The amount of useful work accomplished estimated in terms of time needed, resources used, etc.
  5. 5
    The actual use of language in concrete situations by native speakers of a language, as opposed to the system of linguistic knowledge they possess (competence), cf. linguistic performance.

Etymology

From Middle English parfourmaunce; equivalent to perform + -ance.

This word in other languages

actuación(Español)exécution(Français)Durchführung(Deutsch)desempenho(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: eprformance,pefrormance,perfformance,perfomrance,perforamnce,performacne,performancce,performanec,performannce,performence,performmance,performnace,perforrmance,perfromance,perofrmance,perrformance,pperformance,preformance

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of performance - 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.

eprformance2pefrormance2perfformance1perfomrance2perforamnce2performacne2performancce1performanec2
Edit distance from "performance"

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 "performance"?
"performance" is spelled P-E-R-F-O-R-M-A-N-C-E. The IPA pronunciation is [pəˈfɔː.məns].
What does "performance" mean?
As a noun, "performance" means: The act of performing; carrying into execution or action; execution; achievement; accomplishment; representation by action.
What are common misspellings of "performance"?
Common misspellings include "eprformance", "pefrormance", "perfformance", "perfomrance", "perforamnce". The correct spelling is "performance".
How do you pronounce "performance"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "performance" is [pəˈfɔː.məns]. 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 "performance"?
From Middle English parfourmaunce; equivalent to perform + -ance. 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 “performance”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is P-E-R-F-O-R-M-A-N-C-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as [pəˈfɔː.məns] (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