popcorn

/ˈpɒp.kɔː(ɹ)n/

//ˈpɒp.kɔː(ɹ)n// noun

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

The verdict

“popcorn” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #10,746 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#10,746
frequency rank, English
7
letters
11
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A snack food made from corn or maize kernels popped by dry heating.

Key facts for popcorn
PropertyValue
Headwordpopcorn
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈpɒp.kɔː(ɹ)n/
Letters7
Frequency rank#10,746
Misspellings tracked11
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “popcorn” 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). popcorn 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 popcorn is 7 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈpɒp.kɔː(ɹ)n/. Corpus data places it at rank #10,746 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 9 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 11 likely wrong-spelling variants for popcorn, with forms such as "oppcorn", "pocporn", and "popccorn". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

Etymologically, the entry records: Short for popped corn. By surface analysis, pop + corn. The correct English form is popcorn, spelled P-O-P-C-O-R-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    A snack food made from corn or maize kernels popped by dry heating.
  2. 2
    A serving of popcorn.
  3. 3
    A piece of popcorn.
  4. 4
    A type of corn or maize with a hard outer hull that, along with the type of starch it contains, makes it suitable for popping.
  5. 5
    A kind of stitch similar to a bobble.
  6. 6
    A form of brainstorming in which participants call out their ideas immediately, instead of waiting for an assigned turn to speak.
  7. 7
    Entertainment for observers.
  8. 8
    A slow Belgian style of soul music popular in the early 1960s.
  9. 9
    A Romanian style of Europop popular in the late 2000s.

Etymology

Short for popped corn. By surface analysis, pop + corn.

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: oppcorn,pocporn,popccorn,popconr,popcornn,popcorrn,popcron,popocrn,poppcorn,ppocorn,ppopcorn

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of popcorn - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

oppcorn2pocporn2popccorn1popconr2popcornn1popcorrn1popcron2popocrn2
Edit distance from "popcorn"

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 "popcorn"?
"popcorn" is spelled P-O-P-C-O-R-N. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈpɒp.kɔː(ɹ)n/.
What does "popcorn" mean?
As a noun, "popcorn" means: A snack food made from corn or maize kernels popped by dry heating.
What are common misspellings of "popcorn"?
Common misspellings include "oppcorn", "pocporn", "popccorn", "popconr", "popcornn". The correct spelling is "popcorn".
How do you pronounce "popcorn"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "popcorn" is /ˈpɒp.kɔː(ɹ)n/. 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 "popcorn"?
Short for popped corn. By surface analysis, pop + corn. 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 “popcorn”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is P-O-P-C-O-R-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈpɒp.kɔː(ɹ)n/ (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