plethora

/ˈplɛθəɹə/

//ˈplɛθəɹə// noun

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

The verdict

“plethora” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #21,317 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#21,317
frequency rank, English
8
letters
12
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - An excessive amount or number; an abundance.

Key facts for plethora
PropertyValue
Headwordplethora
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈplɛθəɹə/
Letters8
Frequency rank#21,317
Misspellings tracked12
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “plethora” 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). plethora 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 plethora is 8 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈplɛθəɹə/. Corpus data places it at rank #21,317 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 2 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 12 likely wrong-spelling variants for plethora, with forms such as "lpethora", "pelthora", and "plehtora". 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. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, a sign it's visually distinctive enough not to be mixed up with another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Late Latin plēthōra, from Ancient Greek πληθώρη (plēthṓrē, “fullness, satiety”), from πλήθω (plḗthō, “to be full”) + -η (-ē, nominal suffix). The correct English form is plethora, spelled P-L-E-T-H-O-R-A.

Definition

  1. 1
    An excessive amount or number; an abundance.
  2. 2
    Excess of blood in the skin, especially in the face and especially chronically.

Etymology

From Late Latin plēthōra, from Ancient Greek πληθώρη (plēthṓrē, “fullness, satiety”), from πλήθω (plḗthō, “to be full”) + -η (-ē, nominal suffix).

Synonyms

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: lpethora,pelthora,plehtora,plethhora,plethoar,plethorra,plethroa,pletohra,pletthora,pllethora,pltehora,pplethora

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

lpethora2pelthora2plehtora2plethhora1plethoar2plethorra1plethroa2pletohra2
Edit distance from "plethora"

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 "plethora"?
"plethora" is spelled P-L-E-T-H-O-R-A. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈplɛθəɹə/.
What does "plethora" mean?
As a noun, "plethora" means: An excessive amount or number; an abundance.
What are common misspellings of "plethora"?
Common misspellings include "lpethora", "pelthora", "plehtora", "plethhora", "plethoar". The correct spelling is "plethora".
How do you pronounce "plethora"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "plethora" is /ˈplɛθəɹə/. 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 "plethora"?
From Late Latin plēthōra, from Ancient Greek πληθώρη (plēthṓrē, “fullness, satiety”), from πλήθω (plḗthō, “to be full”) + -η (-ē, nominal suffix). 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 “plethora”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is P-L-E-T-H-O-R-A - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈplɛθəɹə/ (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
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