profile

/ˈpɹəʊfaɪl/

//ˈpɹəʊfaɪl// noun

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

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

The verdict

“profile” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #1,610 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#1,610
frequency rank, English
7
letters
10
tracked misspellings
6
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The outermost shape, view, or edge of an object.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

profile vs profit
71% similar
profile vs provide
71% similar
profile vs promise
71% similar

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

Key facts for profile
PropertyValue
Headwordprofile
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈpɹəʊfaɪl/
Letters7
Frequency rank#1,610
Misspellings tracked10
Confusable pairs6
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “profile” 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). profile 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 profile is 7 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈpɹəʊfaɪl/. Corpus data places it at rank #1,610 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 12 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 profile, with forms such as "porfile", "pprofile", and "prfoile". 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. It also participates in 6 confusable-pair relationships, "profit", "provide", "promise", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From French profil, from Italian profilo (“a border”), later also proffilo (“a side-face, profile”), from Latin pro (“before”) + filo (“a line, stroke, thread”), from filum (“a thread”); see file. Doublet of purfle. The correct English form is profile, spelled P-R-O-F-I-L-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    The outermost shape, view, or edge of an object.
  2. 2
    The shape, view, or shadow of a person's head from the side; a side view.
  3. 3
    A summary or collection of information, especially about a person.
  4. 4
    A specific page or field in which users can provide various types of personal information in software or Internet systems.
  5. 5
    Reputation, prominence; noticeability.
  6. 6
    The amount by which something protrudes.
  7. 7
    A smoothed (e.g., troweled or brushed) vertical surface of an excavation showing evidence of at least one feature or diagnostic specimen; the graphic recording of such as by sketching, photographing, etc.
  8. 8
    Character; totality of related characteristics; signature; status (especially in scientific, technical, or military uses).
  9. 9
    A section of any member, made at right angles with its main lines, showing the exact shape of mouldings etc.
  10. 10
    A drawing exhibiting a vertical section of the ground along a surveyed line, or graded work, as of a railway, showing elevations, depressions, grades, etc.
  11. 11
    An exemption from certain types of duties due to injury or disability.
  12. 12
    A user's preferences.

Etymology

From French profil, from Italian profilo (“a border”), later also proffilo (“a side-face, profile”), from Latin pro (“before”) + filo (“a line, stroke, thread”), from filum (“a thread”); see file. Doublet of purfle.

This word in other languages

perfil(Español)contour(Français)Profil(Deutsch)perfil(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: porfile,pprofile,prfoile,proffile,profiel,profille,proflie,proifle,prrofile,rpofile

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of profile - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

porfile2pprofile1prfoile2proffile1profiel2profille1proflie2proifle2
Edit distance from "profile"

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 "profile"?
"profile" is spelled P-R-O-F-I-L-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈpɹəʊfaɪl/.
What does "profile" mean?
As a noun, "profile" means: The outermost shape, view, or edge of an object.
What words are commonly confused with "profile"?
"profile" is commonly confused with "profit", "provide", "promise". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "profile"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "profile" is /ˈpɹəʊfaɪl/. 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 "profile"?
From French profil, from Italian profilo (“a border”), later also proffilo (“a side-face, profile”), from Latin pro (“before”) + filo (“a line, stroke, thread”), from filum (“a thread”); see file. Doublet of purfle. 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 “profile”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is P-R-O-F-I-L-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈpɹəʊfaɪl/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “profit” - see the side-by-side comparison. profile vs profit
  • 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