punch line
/ˈpʌntʃˌlaɪn/
"punch-line" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“punch line” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a noun - the kind of word writers most often double-check.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 10
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The final part of a joke; the word, sentence, or exchange of sentences that is intended to be funny and provokes laughter from the listeners.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | punch line |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Noun |
| IPA | /ˈpʌntʃˌlaɪn/ |
| Letters | 10 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “punch line” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for punch line is 10 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈpʌntʃˌlaɪn/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.
No generated misspelling entries exist for punch line in our index, since its letter pattern doesn't lend itself to common typo substitutions. It is not paired with a close-neighbour confusable in our dataset, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.
Etymologically, the entry records: 1910s, probably American. It was probably meant to be likened to a quick, sharp punch. The correct English form is punch line, spelled P-U-N-C-H- -L-I-N-E.
Definition
- 1The final part of a joke; the word, sentence, or exchange of sentences that is intended to be funny and provokes laughter from the listeners.
- 2The butt of a joke; laughing stock.
- 3A final, concluding statement that an explanation has been leading up to; a conclusion.
Etymology
1910s, probably American. It was probably meant to be likened to a quick, sharp punch.
This word in other languages
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Using “punch line”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is P-U-N-C-H- -L-I-N-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /ˈpʌntʃˌlaɪn/ (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.