plumage

/ˈpluːmɪd͡ʒ/

//ˈpluːmɪd͡ʒ// noun

"plumage" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“plumage” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #31,294 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#31,294
frequency rank, English
7
letters
10
tracked misspellings
2
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Layer or collection of feathers covering a bird’s body; feathers used ornamentally; feathering.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

plumage vs plume
71% similar
plumage vs plunge
71% similar

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

Key facts for plumage
PropertyValue
Headwordplumage
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈpluːmɪd͡ʒ/
Letters7
Frequency rank#31,294
Misspellings tracked10
Confusable pairs2
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “plumage” 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). plumage 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 plumage is 7 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈpluːmɪd͡ʒ/. Corpus data places it at rank #31,294 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 10 likely wrong-spelling variants for plumage, with forms such as "lpumage", "pllumage", and "plmuage". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 2 confusable-pair relationships, "plume", "plunge", since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Old French plumage (14c.), itself from plume (“feather”) (from Latin plūma (“feather, down”), from a Proto-Indo-European base *plews- (“to pluck, a feather, fleece”) + -age. The correct English form is plumage, spelled P-L-U-M-A-G-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    Layer or collection of feathers covering a bird’s body; feathers used ornamentally; feathering.
  2. 2
    Finery or elaborate dress.

Etymology

From Old French plumage (14c.), itself from plume (“feather”) (from Latin plūma (“feather, down”), from a Proto-Indo-European base *plews- (“to pluck, a feather, fleece”) + -age.

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: lpumage,pllumage,plmuage,pluamge,plumaeg,plumagge,plumgae,plummage,pplumage,pulmage

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

lpumage2pllumage1plmuage2pluamge2plumaeg2plumagge1plumgae2plummage1
Edit distance from "plumage"

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 "plumage"?
"plumage" is spelled P-L-U-M-A-G-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈpluːmɪd͡ʒ/.
What does "plumage" mean?
As a noun, "plumage" means: Layer or collection of feathers covering a bird’s body; feathers used ornamentally; feathering.
What words are commonly confused with "plumage"?
"plumage" is commonly confused with "plume", "plunge". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "plumage"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "plumage" is /ˈpluːmɪd͡ʒ/. 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 "plumage"?
From Old French plumage (14c.), itself from plume (“feather”) (from Latin plūma (“feather, down”), from a Proto-Indo-European base *plews- (“to pluck, a feather, fleece”) + -age. 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 “plumage”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is P-L-U-M-A-G-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈpluːmɪd͡ʒ/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “plume” - see the side-by-side comparison. plumage vs plume
  • 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