plankton

/ˈplæŋ(k).tən/

//ˈplæŋ(k).tən// noun

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

"plankton" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“plankton” has 13 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #27,248. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#27,248
frequency rank, English
46,516
“P” headwords
13
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Organisms, especially small and microscopic ones, that drift in water.

Key facts for plankton
PropertyValue
Headwordplankton
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈplæŋ(k).tən/
Letters8
Frequency rank#27,248
Misspellings tracked13
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “plankton” 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). plankton lands here:

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

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

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 13 spelling variants around plankton (IPA /ˈplæŋ(k).tən/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #27,248 among 46,516 “P” headwords. Wiktionary lists 2 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 13 likely wrong-spelling variants for plankton, with forms such as "lpankton", "palnkton", and "plaknton". 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. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, which typically means the spelling is too distinctive to be mistaken for another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from German Plankton, coined by German zoologist and marine biologist Victor Hensen. By surface analysis, Ancient Greek πλαγκτός (planktós, “drifter”) + -on. Ultimately from Ancient Greek πλαγκτόν (planktón, “drifting”), neuter nominative of πλαγκτ… The correct English form is plankton, spelled P-L-A-N-K-T-O-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    Organisms, especially small and microscopic ones, that drift in water.
  2. 2
    A plankter, any single organism that drifts in water.

Etymology

Borrowed from German Plankton, coined by German zoologist and marine biologist Victor Hensen. By surface analysis, Ancient Greek πλαγκτός (planktós, “drifter”) + -on. Ultimately from Ancient Greek πλαγκτόν (planktón, “drifting”), neuter nominative of πλαγκτός (planktós), from πλάζομαι (plázomai, “to wander, drift”), from πλάζω (plázō, “to cause to wander, drive astray”). By surface analysis, plankt- + -on.

This word in other languages

plancton(Español)plancton(Français)Plankton(Deutsch)plâncton(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • lpankton
  • palnkton
  • plaknton
  • plankkton
  • plankotn
  • planktno
  • planktonn
  • planktton
  • plannkton
  • plantkon
  • pllankton
  • plnakton
  • pplankton

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of plankton - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

lpankton2palnkton2plaknton2plankkton1plankotn2planktno2planktonn1planktton1
Edit distance from "plankton"

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 "plankton"?
"plankton" is spelled P-L-A-N-K-T-O-N. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈplæŋ(k).tən/.
What does "plankton" mean?
As a noun, "plankton" means: Organisms, especially small and microscopic ones, that drift in water.
What are common misspellings of "plankton"?
Common misspellings include "lpankton", "palnkton", "plaknton", "plankkton", "plankotn". The correct spelling is "plankton".
How do you pronounce "plankton"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "plankton" is /ˈplæŋ(k).tən/. 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 "plankton"?
Borrowed from German Plankton, coined by German zoologist and marine biologist Victor Hensen. By surface analysis, Ancient Greek πλαγκτός (planktós, “drifter”) + -on. Ultimately from Ancient Greek πλαγκτόν (planktón, “drifting”), neuter nominative... 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 “plankton”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is P-L-A-N-K-T-O-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈplæŋ(k).tən/ (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

Same frequency band

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