phalanx

/ˈfeɪˌlæŋks/

//ˈfeɪˌlæŋks// noun

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

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

The verdict

“phalanx” has 11 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #35,014. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#35,014
frequency rank, English
4,417
“P” headwords
11
tracked misspellings
1
confusable pair

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - An ancient Greek and Macedonian military unit that consisted of several ranks and files (lines) of soldiers in close array with joined shields and long spears.

Corpus desk

Index EN-phalanx · phalanx · English

phalanx · rank #35,014 · 11 variants · 1 confusable

  • FREQ-MID #35,014
  • LEN-LONG 7 letters
  • VOW-2 2 vowels
  • CONFUS-LOW 1 pairs
  • VAR-MID 11 variants
  • BOOK-MID 4,417
  • PHOTO-FINISH penniless

Nearest frequency peer: penniless (-1 rank slots)

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.

Rank peers near misspelling magnet “phalanx”

Same rarity band: useful when a typo lands on a peer headword

corpus weight

What this shows “phalanx” sits among these FrequencyWords peers; misspelling depth is tracked separately in the edit-distance chart.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

phalanx vs Phelan
57% similar

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

Key facts for phalanx
PropertyValue
Headwordphalanx
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈfeɪˌlæŋks/
Letters7
Frequency rank#35,014
Misspellings tracked11
Confusable pairs1
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “phalanx”

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right).phalanxlands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Ticks step logarithmically, so each one marks a roughly tenfold drop in how often the word turns up. Same rarity band neighbours include “penniless” (#35,013), “photogenic” (#35,015), “Pilate” (#35,016). Among 4,417 “P” headwords, “phalanx” is #35,014. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 11 spelling variants around phalanx (IPA /ˈfeɪˌlæŋks/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #35,014 among 4,417 “P” headwords. Wiktionary lists 5 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 11 likely wrong-spelling variants for phalanx, with forms such as "hpalanx", "pahlanx", and "phaalnx". 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 1 confusable-pair relationship, "Phelan", a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from Latin phalanx or Ancient Greek φάλαγξ (phálanx, “battle order, array”). Doublet of phalange, planch, plancha, planche, and plank. The correct English form is phalanx, spelled P-H-A-L-A-N-X.

Definition

  1. 1
    An ancient Greek and Macedonian military unit that consisted of several ranks and files (lines) of soldiers in close array with joined shields and long spears.
  2. 2
    A Fourierite utopian community; a phalanstery.
  3. 3
    A large group of people, animals or things, compact or closely massed, or tightly knit and united in common purpose.
  4. 4
    One of the bones of the finger or toe.
  5. 5
    A bundle of stamens, in diadelphous and polyadelphous flowers.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

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

  1. [Charles Fourier] calculated that if precisely 1,620 men, women and children were collected in a 6,000-acre phalanx, they would — all by merrily following their individual passions — end up satisfying all the phalanx’s essential needs.
  2. The monarch hath gone, but his rocky throne Still rests on its frowning base; Its motionless guards rise in phalanx lone, And nought save the winds through their helmets that moan, And none but those bosoms and hearts of stone Sigh o'er a fallen race.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin phalanx or Ancient Greek φάλαγξ (phálanx, “battle order, array”). Doublet of phalange, planch, plancha, planche, and plank.

This word in other languages

falange(Español)phalange(Français)Phalanx(Deutsch)falange(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • hpalanx
  • pahlanx
  • phaalnx
  • phalannx
  • phalanxx
  • phalaxn
  • phallanx
  • phalnax
  • phhalanx
  • phlaanx
  • pphalanx

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of phalanx - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

hpalanx2pahlanx2phaalnx2phalannx1phalanxx1phalaxn2phallanx1phalnax2
Edit distance from "phalanx"

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 "phalanx"?
"phalanx" is spelled P-H-A-L-A-N-X. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈfeɪˌlæŋks/.
What does "phalanx" mean?
As a noun, "phalanx" means: An ancient Greek and Macedonian military unit that consisted of several ranks and files (lines) of soldiers in close array with joined shields and long spears.
What words are commonly confused with "phalanx"?
"phalanx" is commonly confused with "Phelan". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "phalanx"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "phalanx" is /ˈfeɪˌlæŋks/. 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 "phalanx"?
Borrowed from Latin phalanx or Ancient Greek φάλαγξ (phálanx, “battle order, array”). Doublet of phalange, planch, plancha, planche, and plank. 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.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "phalanx", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 7 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

pirated#35,017plummet#35,019Orville#35,004potters#35,024

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (11 here; floor ≥5).

Prairies11 variantsPrakash11 variantsrealtime11 variantssawdust11 variants

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list