pullover

/ˈpʊləʊvə(ɹ)/

//ˈpʊləʊvə(ɹ)// noun

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

The verdict

“pullover” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #46,713 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#46,713
frequency rank, English
8
letters
10
tracked misspellings
2
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A sweater that must be put on by pulling it over the head; a sweater without buttons or a zipper in front.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

pullover vs pushover
75% similar
pullover vs puller
75% similar

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

Key facts for pullover
PropertyValue
Headwordpullover
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈpʊləʊvə(ɹ)/
Letters8
Frequency rank#46,713
Misspellings tracked10
Confusable pairs2
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “pullover” 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). pullover 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 pullover is 8 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈpʊləʊvə(ɹ)/. Corpus data places it at rank #46,713 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 4 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 pullover, with forms such as "plulover", "ppullover", and "pulloevr". 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 2 confusable-pair relationships, "pushover", "puller", since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: Deverbal from pull over. The correct English form is pullover, spelled P-U-L-L-O-V-E-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    A sweater that must be put on by pulling it over the head; a sweater without buttons or a zipper in front.
  2. 2
    An exercise performed lying on the back in which the arms are extended behind the head and exertion lifts the weight above the head.
  3. 3
    An exercise in which the gymnast pulls up from a hang lifting the legs up and over the bar thus rolling into a support position.
  4. 4
    An instance of a vehicle being pulled over.

Etymology

Deverbal from pull over.

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: plulover,ppullover,pulloevr,pulloverr,pullovre,pullovver,pullvoer,pulolver,pulover,upllover

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of pullover - 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.

plulover2ppullover1pulloevr2pulloverr1pullovre2pullovver1pullvoer2pulolver2
Edit distance from "pullover"

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 "pullover"?
"pullover" is spelled P-U-L-L-O-V-E-R. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈpʊləʊvə(ɹ)/.
What does "pullover" mean?
As a noun, "pullover" means: A sweater that must be put on by pulling it over the head; a sweater without buttons or a zipper in front.
What words are commonly confused with "pullover"?
"pullover" is commonly confused with "pushover", "puller". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "pullover"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "pullover" is /ˈpʊləʊvə(ɹ)/. 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 "pullover"?
Deverbal from pull over. 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 “pullover”

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

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