possibility
/ˌpɒs.ɪˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/
"possibility" is a 11-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“possibility” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #2,589 in English word frequency and used as a noun.
- #2,589
- frequency rank, English
- 11
- letters
- 15
- tracked misspellings
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The quality of being possible.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | possibility |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Noun |
| IPA | /ˌpɒs.ɪˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/ |
| Letters | 11 |
| Frequency rank | #2,589 |
| Misspellings tracked | 15 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “possibility” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for possibility is 11 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˌpɒs.ɪˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/. Corpus data places it at rank #2,589 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 4 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.
Our generated misspelling index lists 15 likely wrong-spelling variants for possibility, with forms such as "opssibility", "posibility", and "posisbility". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.
Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English possibilite, from Middle French possibilité (from Old French possibilite) and directly from Late Latin possibilitās (“possibility”), from Latin possibilis (“possible”); see possible. By surface analysis, possible + -ity. The correct English form is possibility, spelled P-O-S-S-I-B-I-L-I-T-Y.
Definition
- 1The quality of being possible.
- 2A thing possible; that which may take place or come into being.
- 3An option or choice, usually used in context with future events.
- 4Capability, power or capacity to act.
Etymology
From Middle English possibilite, from Middle French possibilité (from Old French possibilite) and directly from Late Latin possibilitās (“possibility”), from Latin possibilis (“possible”); see possible. By surface analysis, possible + -ity.
Antonyms
This word in other languages
Common misspellings
Also misspelled as: opssibility,posibility,posisbility,possbiility,possibbility,possibiilty,possibilitty,possibilityy,possibiliyt,possibillity,possibiltiy,possibliity,possiiblity,ppossibility,psosibility
Misspelling Pattern Breakdown
How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of possibility - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.
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 "possibility"?
What does "possibility" mean?
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Is PlainSpell free to use?
Using “possibility”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is P-O-S-S-I-B-I-L-I-T-Y - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /ˌpɒs.ɪˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/ (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.