pushback
"pushback" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“pushback” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #38,568 in English word frequency and used as a noun.
- #38,568
- frequency rank, English
- 8
- letters
- 13
- tracked misspellings
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The act of repelling an enemy, etc.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | pushback |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Noun |
| Letters | 8 |
| Frequency rank | #38,568 |
| Misspellings tracked | 13 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “pushback” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for pushback is 8 letters long, classified as a noun. Corpus data places it at rank #38,568 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 5 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.
Our generated misspelling index lists 13 likely wrong-spelling variants for pushback, with forms such as "ppushback", "psuhback", and "puhsback". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.
Etymologically, the entry records: From push + back, or push back. The correct English form is pushback, spelled P-U-S-H-B-A-C-K.
Definition
- 1The act of repelling an enemy, etc.
- 2A procedure in which an aircraft is pushed backwards away from the gate by some external force, usually a special tractor.
- 3A reversal or reduction.
- 4Criticism of or resistance to a proposal, stance, or event.
- 5Summary expulsion of asylum seekers, especially when violating the principle of non-refoulement.
Etymology
From push + back, or push back.
Common misspellings
Also misspelled as: ppushback,psuhback,puhsback,pusbhack,pushabck,pushbacck,pushbackk,pushbakc,pushbback,pushbcak,pushhback,pusshback,upshback
Misspelling Pattern Breakdown
How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of pushback - 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.
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
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Using “pushback”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is P-U-S-H-B-A-C-K - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- 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.