pincushion

/ˈpɪnˌkʊʃn̩/

//ˈpɪnˌkʊʃn̩// noun

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

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

The verdict

“pincushion” is uncommon English (frequency #78,941 among 46,516 “P” headwords), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#78,941
frequency rank, English
46,516
“P” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A device, originally like a small, stuffed cushion, designed to have sewing pins and needles stuck into it to store them safely; some modern pincushions hold the objects magnetically.

Key facts for pincushion
PropertyValue
Headwordpincushion
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈpɪnˌkʊʃn̩/
Letters10
Frequency rank#78,941
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “pincushion” 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). pincushion lands here:

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

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

pincushion is uncommon English at frequency #78,941 among 46,516 “P” headwords, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈpɪnˌkʊʃn̩/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 8 senses are on record.

Our edit-distance generator produced no likely misspellings for pincushion, a straightforward case of a spelling with little room for common typos. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.

Etymologically, the entry records: The noun is derived from pin + cushion. The verb is derived from the noun. The correct English form is pincushion, spelled P-I-N-C-U-S-H-I-O-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    A device, originally like a small, stuffed cushion, designed to have sewing pins and needles stuck into it to store them safely; some modern pincushions hold the objects magnetically.
  2. 2
    The names of various plants with flowers or other parts resembling a pincushion.
  3. 3
    The names of various plants with flowers or other parts resembling a pincushion.
  4. 4
    The names of various plants with flowers or other parts resembling a pincushion.
  5. 5
    The names of various plants with flowers or other parts resembling a pincushion.
  6. 6
    The names of various plants with flowers or other parts resembling a pincushion.
  7. 7
    The names of various plants with flowers or other parts resembling a pincushion.
  8. 8
    A person who is pricked or stabbed multiple times with sharp objects; specifically, someone who receives regular hypodermic needle injections.

Etymology

The noun is derived from pin + cushion. The verb is derived from the noun.

This word in other languages

agujero(Español)pique-aiguille(Français)Nadelkissen(Deutsch)

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 "pincushion"?
"pincushion" is spelled P-I-N-C-U-S-H-I-O-N. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈpɪnˌkʊʃn̩/.
What does "pincushion" mean?
As a noun, "pincushion" means: A device, originally like a small, stuffed cushion, designed to have sewing pins and needles stuck into it to store them safely; some modern pincushions hold the objects magnetically.
How do you pronounce "pincushion"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "pincushion" is /ˈpɪnˌkʊʃn̩/. 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 "pincushion"?
The noun is derived from pin + cushion. The verb is derived from the noun. 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 “pincushion”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is P-I-N-C-U-S-H-I-O-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈpɪnˌkʊʃn̩/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Other uncommon English words near this rank

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