periodic table

/ˌpɪɹiˈɒdɪk ˈteɪb(ə)l/

//ˌpɪɹiˈɒdɪk ˈteɪb(ə)l// noun

"periodic-table" is a 13-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

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

Unranked
below top-frequency English
14
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - A tabular chart of the chemical elements according to their atomic numbers so that elements with similar properties are in the same group (column).

Corpus desk

Index EN-periodic-table · periodic table · English

periodic table · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
  • LEN-MEGA 14 letters
  • VOW-6 6 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-THIN "P" thin
  • PHOTO-UNK Peer pending

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Key facts for periodic table
PropertyValue
Headwordperiodic table
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˌpɪɹiˈɒdɪk ˈteɪb(ə)l/
Letters14
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “periodic table” in English

periodic tablesits beyond the 100,000 most-frequent English words, in the long tail of technical, archaic, or otherwise rare vocabulary where spelling doubt tends to strike hardest.

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

Rare enough to double-check

periodic table is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˌpɪɹiˈɒdɪk ˈteɪb(ə)l/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. Gloss: "A tabular chart of the chemical elements according to their atomic numbers so that elements with similar properties are in the same group (column).".

Our edit-distance generator produced no likely misspellings for periodic table, suggesting the orthography follows predictable English patterns. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, a sign it's visually distinctive enough not to be mixed up with another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: The table is termed “periodic” because it follows the periodic law – when chemical elements are arranged in order of increasing atomic number, elements with similar properties recur at intervals. The correct English form is periodic table, spelled P-E-R-I-O-D-I-C- -T-A-B-L-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    A tabular chart of the chemical elements according to their atomic numbers so that elements with similar properties are in the same group (column).

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how periodic table appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. The atomic weight of krypton would accordingly be 81.62; the mean of former determinations is 81.28. This is in accordance with its position in the periodic table, which lies between bromine, 80, and rubidium, 85.
  2. Silica and alumina are distinctly the most abundant and characteristic petrogenic constituents, and with them are most frequently associated those elements toward the extreme petrogenic end of the periodic table, especially potassium, sodium, and calcium in the order named; and these elements are associated with each other.

Etymology

The table is termed “periodic” because it follows the periodic law – when chemical elements are arranged in order of increasing atomic number, elements with similar properties recur at intervals.

This word in other languages

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 "periodic table"?
"periodic table" is spelled P-E-R-I-O-D-I-C- -T-A-B-L-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˌpɪɹiˈɒdɪk ˈteɪb(ə)l/.
What does "periodic table" mean?
As a noun, "periodic table" means: A tabular chart of the chemical elements according to their atomic numbers so that elements with similar properties are in the same group (column).
How do you pronounce "periodic table"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "periodic table" is /ˌpɪɹiˈɒdɪk ˈteɪb(ə)l/. 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 "periodic table"?
The table is termed “periodic” because it follows the periodic law – when chemical elements are arranged in order of increasing atomic number, elements with similar properties recur at intervals. 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.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list