quicksand

/ˈkwɪkˌsænd/

//ˈkwɪkˌsænd// noun

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

"quicksand" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“quicksand” has 14 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #42,842. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#42,842
frequency rank, English
2,880
“Q” headwords
14
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Wet sand that appears firm but in which things readily sink, often found near rivers or coasts.

Key facts for quicksand
PropertyValue
Headwordquicksand
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈkwɪkˌsænd/
Letters9
Frequency rank#42,842
Misspellings tracked14
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “quicksand” 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). quicksand 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 14 spelling variants around quicksand (IPA /ˈkwɪkˌsænd/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #42,842 among 2,880 “Q” headwords. Wiktionary lists 2 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 14 likely wrong-spelling variants for quicksand, with forms such as "qiucksand", "qquicksand", and "quciksand". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, a sign it's visually distinctive enough not to be mixed up with another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English quyksande, from Old English cwecesand (“quicksand”), equivalent to quick (“living”) + sand. Cognate with Swedish kvicksand (“quicksand”), Icelandic kviksandur, kviksyndi (“quicksand”). More at quick, sand. The correct English form is quicksand, spelled Q-U-I-C-K-S-A-N-D.

Definition

  1. 1
    Wet sand that appears firm but in which things readily sink, often found near rivers or coasts.
  2. 2
    Anything that metaphorically pulls one down or buries one; a treacherous, risky danger

Etymology

From Middle English quyksande, from Old English cwecesand (“quicksand”), equivalent to quick (“living”) + sand. Cognate with Swedish kvicksand (“quicksand”), Icelandic kviksandur, kviksyndi (“quicksand”). More at quick, sand.

Synonyms

syrtissyrt

This word in other languages

sables mouvants(Français)Treibsand(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • qiucksand
  • qquicksand
  • quciksand
  • quiccksand
  • quickasnd
  • quickksand
  • quicksadn
  • quicksandd
  • quicksannd
  • quicksnad
  • quickssand
  • quicskand
  • quikcsand
  • uqicksand

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

qiucksand2qquicksand1quciksand2quiccksand1quickasnd2quickksand1quicksadn2quicksandd1
Edit distance from "quicksand"

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 "quicksand"?
"quicksand" is spelled Q-U-I-C-K-S-A-N-D. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈkwɪkˌsænd/.
What does "quicksand" mean?
As a noun, "quicksand" means: Wet sand that appears firm but in which things readily sink, often found near rivers or coasts.
What are common misspellings of "quicksand"?
Common misspellings include "qiucksand", "qquicksand", "quciksand", "quiccksand", "quickasnd". The correct spelling is "quicksand".
How do you pronounce "quicksand"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "quicksand" is /ˈkwɪkˌsænd/. 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 "quicksand"?
From Middle English quyksande, from Old English cwecesand (“quicksand”), equivalent to quick (“living”) + sand. Cognate with Swedish kvicksand (“quicksand”), Icelandic kviksandur, kviksyndi (“quicksand”). More at quick, sand. 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 “quicksand”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is Q-U-I-C-K-S-A-N-D - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈkwɪkˌsænd/ (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

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