pickup

/ˈpɪkʌp/

//ˈpɪkʌp// noun

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

"pickup" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“pickup” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #8,841 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#8,841
frequency rank, English
6
letters
9
tracked misspellings
7
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - An electronic device for detecting sound, vibration, etc., such as one fitted to an electric guitar or record player.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

pickup vs picky
67% similar
pickup vs pick
67% similar
pickup vs picks
67% similar

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

Key facts for pickup
PropertyValue
Headwordpickup
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈpɪkʌp/
Letters6
Frequency rank#8,841
Misspellings tracked9
Confusable pairs7
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “pickup” 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). pickup 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 pickup is 6 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈpɪkʌp/. Corpus data places it at rank #8,841 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 16 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 9 likely wrong-spelling variants for pickup, with forms such as "ipckup", "pcikup", and "picckup". 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 7 confusable-pair relationships, "picky", "pick", "picks", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: From pick + up. The correct English form is pickup, spelled P-I-C-K-U-P.

Definition

  1. 1
    An electronic device for detecting sound, vibration, etc., such as one fitted to an electric guitar or record player.
  2. 2
    An electronic device for detecting sound, vibration, etc., such as one fitted to an electric guitar or record player.
  3. 3
    An electronic device for detecting sound, vibration, etc., such as one fitted to an electric guitar or record player.
  4. 4
    Ellipsis of pickup truck.
  5. 5
    Impromptu or ad hoc, especially of sports games and teams made up of randomly selected players.
  6. 6
    An instance of approaching someone and engaging in romantic flirtation and courting with the intent to pursue romance, a date, or a sexual encounter.
  7. 7
    A person successfully approached in this manner for romance or sex.
  8. 8
    In various games, the fielding or hitting of a ball just after it strikes the ground.
  9. 9
    An item that can be picked up by the player, conferring some benefit or effect; a power-up.
  10. 10
    The act of a challenging party or candidate winning an electoral district held by an incumbent party or candidate.
  11. 11
    The act of answering a telephone.
  12. 12
    A relatively minor shot filmed or recorded after the fact to augment previous footage.
  13. 13
    The act of collecting and taking away something or someone, usually in a vehicle.
  14. 14
    A time during which passengers, such as school children, are picked up.
  15. 15
    The rate at which a motor vehicle picks up speed.
  16. 16
    The condition of being picked up, or taken up; adoption by some entity.

Etymology

From pick + up.

This word in other languages

drague(Français)retirada(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ipckup,pcikup,picckup,pickkup,pickpu,pickupp,picukp,pikcup,ppickup

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

ipckup2pcikup2picckup1pickkup1pickpu2pickupp1picukp2pikcup2
Edit distance from "pickup"

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 "pickup"?
"pickup" is spelled P-I-C-K-U-P. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈpɪkʌp/.
What does "pickup" mean?
As a noun, "pickup" means: An electronic device for detecting sound, vibration, etc., such as one fitted to an electric guitar or record player.
What words are commonly confused with "pickup"?
"pickup" is commonly confused with "picky", "pick", "picks". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "pickup"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "pickup" is /ˈpɪkʌp/. 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 "pickup"?
From pick + up. 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 “pickup”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is P-I-C-K-U-P - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈpɪkʌp/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “picky” - see the side-by-side comparison. pickup vs picky
  • 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