physically

/ˈfɪz.ɪ.kli/

//ˈfɪz.ɪ.kli// adv

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

"physically" is a 10-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“physically” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #4,321 in English word frequency and used as an adverb.

#4,321
frequency rank, English
10
letters
15
tracked misspellings
2
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - In a physical manner.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

physically vs physical
80% similar
physically vs physicality
82% similar

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

Key facts for physically
PropertyValue
Headwordphysically
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdverb
IPA/ˈfɪz.ɪ.kli/
Letters10
Frequency rank#4,321
Misspellings tracked15
Confusable pairs2
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “physically” 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). physically 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 physically is 10 letters long, classified as an adverb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈfɪz.ɪ.kli/. Corpus data places it at rank #4,321 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 5 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 15 likely wrong-spelling variants for physically, with forms such as "hpysically", "phhysically", and "phsyically". 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 2 confusable-pair relationships, "physical", "physicality", where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From physic + -ally or physical + -ly. The correct English form is physically, spelled P-H-Y-S-I-C-A-L-L-Y.

Definition

  1. 1
    In a physical manner.
  2. 2
    According to the laws of physics.
  3. 3
    Using physical force.
  4. 4
    Directly, rather than automatically or similar.
  5. 5
    According to the rules of medicine.

Etymology

From physic + -ally or physical + -ly.

This word in other languages

físicamente(Español)physiquement(Français)physisch(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: hpysically,phhysically,phsyically,phyiscally,physcially,physiaclly,physicallyy,physicaly,physicalyl,physiccally,physiclaly,physsically,phyysically,pphysically,pyhsically

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

hpysically2phhysically1phsyically2phyiscally2physcially2physiaclly2physicallyy1physicaly1
Edit distance from "physically"

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 "physically"?
"physically" is spelled P-H-Y-S-I-C-A-L-L-Y. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈfɪz.ɪ.kli/.
What does "physically" mean?
As an adverb, "physically" means: In a physical manner.
What words are commonly confused with "physically"?
"physically" is commonly confused with "physical", "physicality". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "physically"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "physically" is /ˈfɪz.ɪ.kli/. 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 "physically"?
From physic + -ally or physical + -ly. 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 “physically”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is P-H-Y-S-I-C-A-L-L-Y - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈfɪz.ɪ.kli/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “physical” - see the side-by-side comparison. physically vs physical
  • 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