perimeter

/pəˈɹɪm.ɪ.tə(ɹ)/

//pəˈɹɪm.ɪ.tə(ɹ)// noun

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

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

The verdict

“perimeter” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #11,579 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#11,579
frequency rank, English
9
letters
13
tracked misspellings
1
confusable pair

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The sum of the distance of all the lengths of the sides of an object.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

perimeter vs parameter
78% similar

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

Key facts for perimeter
PropertyValue
Headwordperimeter
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/pəˈɹɪm.ɪ.tə(ɹ)/
Letters9
Frequency rank#11,579
Misspellings tracked13
Confusable pairs1
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “perimeter” 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). perimeter 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 perimeter is 9 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /pəˈɹɪm.ɪ.tə(ɹ)/. Corpus data places it at rank #11,579 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 5 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 13 likely wrong-spelling variants for perimeter, with forms such as "eprimeter", "peirmeter", and "periemter". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. It also participates in 1 confusable-pair relationship, "parameter", since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Latin perimetros, Ancient Greek περίμετρος (perímetros). Equivalent to peri- + meter. The correct English form is perimeter, spelled P-E-R-I-M-E-T-E-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    The sum of the distance of all the lengths of the sides of an object.
  2. 2
    The length of such a boundary.
  3. 3
    The outer limits of an area.
  4. 4
    A fortified strip or boundary usually protecting a military position.
  5. 5
    An instrument for determining the extent and shape of the field of vision.

Etymology

From Latin perimetros, Ancient Greek περίμετρος (perímetros). Equivalent to peri- + meter.

Synonyms

circumferencepremises

This word in other languages

perímetro(Español)périmètre(Français)Umfang(Deutsch)perímetro(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: eprimeter,peirmeter,periemter,perimeetr,perimeterr,perimetre,perimetter,perimmeter,perimteer,permieter,perrimeter,pperimeter,preimeter

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

eprimeter2peirmeter2periemter2perimeetr2perimeterr1perimetre2perimetter1perimmeter1
Edit distance from "perimeter"

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 "perimeter"?
"perimeter" is spelled P-E-R-I-M-E-T-E-R. The IPA pronunciation is /pəˈɹɪm.ɪ.tə(ɹ)/.
What does "perimeter" mean?
As a noun, "perimeter" means: The sum of the distance of all the lengths of the sides of an object.
What words are commonly confused with "perimeter"?
"perimeter" is commonly confused with "parameter". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "perimeter"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "perimeter" is /pəˈɹɪm.ɪ.tə(ɹ)/. 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 "perimeter"?
From Latin perimetros, Ancient Greek περίμετρος (perímetros). Equivalent to peri- + meter. 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 “perimeter”

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

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