pyrite

/ˈpaɪˌɹaɪt/

//ˈpaɪˌɹaɪt// noun

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

"pyrite" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“pyrite” has 9 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #49,574. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#49,574
frequency rank, English
46,516
“P” headwords
9
tracked misspellings
11
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The common mineral iron disulfide (FeS₂), of a pale brass-yellow color and brilliant metallic luster, crystallizing in the isometric system.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

pyrite vs pyre
67% similar
pyrite vs price
67% similar
pyrite vs prime
67% similar

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

Key facts for pyrite
PropertyValue
Headwordpyrite
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈpaɪˌɹaɪt/
Letters6
Frequency rank#49,574
Misspellings tracked9
Confusable pairs11
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “pyrite” 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). pyrite lands here:

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

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 9 spelling variants around pyrite (IPA /ˈpaɪˌɹaɪt/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #49,574 among 46,516 “P” headwords. Wiktionary lists 3 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 9 likely wrong-spelling variants for pyrite, with forms such as "ppyrite", "pryite", and "pyirte". 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 11 confusable-pair relationships, "pyre", "price", "prime", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: Recorded since 1555, from Old French pyrite (12th century), from Latin pȳritēs, from Ancient Greek πυρίτης λίθος (purítēs líthos, “stone of fire, flint”) (so called because it glitters), notably the first part: adjective πυρίτης (purítēs, “of or in fire”), … The correct English form is pyrite, spelled P-Y-R-I-T-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    The common mineral iron disulfide (FeS₂), of a pale brass-yellow color and brilliant metallic luster, crystallizing in the isometric system.
  2. 2
    Any metallic-looking sulphide, such as the above, which is the most common.
  3. 3
    (usually as a plural: pyrites) Any metal dichalcogenide that is isostructural to the common mineral.

Etymology

Recorded since 1555, from Old French pyrite (12th century), from Latin pȳritēs, from Ancient Greek πυρίτης λίθος (purítēs líthos, “stone of fire, flint”) (so called because it glitters), notably the first part: adjective πυρίτης (purítēs, “of or in fire”), from πῦρ (pûr, “fire”). Analyzable as pyr- + -ite

Synonyms

fool's goldiron pyrites

This word in other languages

pirita(Español)pyrite(Français)Pyrit(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • ppyrite
  • pryite
  • pyirte
  • pyriet
  • pyritte
  • pyrrite
  • pyrtie
  • pyyrite
  • yprite

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of pyrite - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

ppyrite1pryite2pyirte2pyriet2pyritte1pyrrite1pyrtie2pyyrite1
Edit distance from "pyrite"

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 "pyrite"?
"pyrite" is spelled P-Y-R-I-T-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈpaɪˌɹaɪt/.
What does "pyrite" mean?
As a noun, "pyrite" means: The common mineral iron disulfide (FeS₂), of a pale brass-yellow color and brilliant metallic luster, crystallizing in the isometric system.
What words are commonly confused with "pyrite"?
"pyrite" is commonly confused with "pyre", "price", "prime". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "pyrite"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "pyrite" is /ˈpaɪˌɹaɪt/. 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 "pyrite"?
Recorded since 1555, from Old French pyrite (12th century), from Latin pȳritēs, from Ancient Greek πυρίτης λίθος (purítēs líthos, “stone of fire, flint”) (so called because it glitters), notably the first part: adjective πυρίτης (purítēs, “of or i... 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 “pyrite”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is P-Y-R-I-T-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈpaɪˌɹaɪt/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “pyre” - see the side-by-side comparison. pyrite vs pyre
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Same frequency band

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