pushback

noun

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

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

The verdict

“pushback” has 13 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #38,568. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#38,568
frequency rank, English
4,417
“P” headwords
13
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - The act of repelling an enemy, etc.

Corpus desk

Index EN-pushback · pushback · English

pushback · rank #38,568 · 13 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-MID #38,568
  • LEN-LONG 8 letters
  • VOW-2 2 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-HIGH 13 variants
  • BOOK-MID 4,417
  • PHOTO-FINISH quads

Nearest frequency peer: quads (+1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Rank peers near misspelling magnet “pushback”

Same rarity band: useful when a typo lands on a peer headword

corpus weight

What this shows “pushback” sits among these FrequencyWords peers; misspelling depth is tracked separately in the edit-distance chart.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026
Key facts for pushback
PropertyValue
Headwordpushback
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
Letters8
Frequency rank#38,568
Misspellings tracked13
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “pushback”

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right).pushbacklands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

The axis is logarithmic, with each marked tick roughly ten times rarer than the last. Same rarity band neighbours include “quads” (#38,569), “purifying” (#38,566), “radicalized” (#38,570). Among 4,417 “P” headwords, “pushback” is #38,568. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 13 spelling variants around pushback, anoun. Corpus frequency is #38,568 among 4,417 “P” headwords. Wiktionary lists 5 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

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

  1. 1
    The act of repelling an enemy, etc.
  2. 2
    A procedure in which an aircraft is pushed backwards away from the gate by some external force, usually a special tractor.
  3. 3
    A reversal or reduction.
  4. 4
    Criticism of or resistance to a proposal, stance, or event.
  5. 5
    Summary expulsion of asylum seekers, especially when violating the principle of non-refoulement.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how pushback appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. Sweden, as well as the UK, recently announced pushbacks on green targets and budgets, while there are negative noises from Germany on building insulation costs.
  2. More pushback from Hill on eavesdropping [title]

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.

ppushback1psuhback2puhsback2pusbhack2pushabck2pushbacck1pushbackk1pushbakc2
Edit distance from "pushback"

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 "pushback"?
"pushback" is spelled P-U-S-H-B-A-C-K.
What does "pushback" mean?
As a noun, "pushback" means: The act of repelling an enemy, etc.
What are common misspellings of "pushback"?
Common misspellings include "ppushback", "psuhback", "puhsback", "pusbhack", "pushabck". The correct spelling is "pushback".
What is the origin of the word "pushback"?
From push + back, or push back. 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.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "pushback", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 8 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

ploughed#38,556parading#38,543ringside#38,594overused#38,537

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (13 here; floor ≥5).

rapporteur13 variantspermissive13 variantspainkiller13 variantsstipulate13 variants

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list