random

/ˈɹændəm/

//ˈɹændəm// noun

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

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

The verdict

“random” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #2,590 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#2,590
frequency rank, English
6
letters
9
tracked misspellings
8
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A roving motion; course without definite direction; lack of rule or method; chance.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

random vs randy
67% similar
random vs rondo
67% similar
random vs ransom
83% similar

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

Key facts for random
PropertyValue
Headwordrandom
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈɹændəm/
Letters6
Frequency rank#2,590
Misspellings tracked9
Confusable pairs8
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “random” 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). random lands here:

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

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

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for random is 6 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈɹændəm/. Corpus data places it at rank #2,590 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 6 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 9 likely wrong-spelling variants for random, with forms such as "arndom", "radnom", and "randdom". 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 8 confusable-pair relationships, "randy", "rondo", "ransom", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From earlier randon, from Middle English randoun, raundon, from Old French randon, from randir (“to run, gallop”) (whence French randonnée (“long walk, hike”)), from Frankish *randiju (“a run, race”) or Old Norse rend (“a run, race”), both from Proto-German… The correct English form is random, spelled R-A-N-D-O-M.

Definition

  1. 1
    A roving motion; course without definite direction; lack of rule or method; chance.
  2. 2
    Speed, full speed; impetuosity, force.
  3. 3
    The full range of a bullet or other projectile; hence, the angle at which a weapon is tilted to allow the greatest range.
  4. 4
    An undefined, unknown or unimportant person; a person of no consequence.
  5. 5
    The direction of a rake-vein.
  6. 6
    A frame for composing type.

Etymology

From earlier randon, from Middle English randoun, raundon, from Old French randon, from randir (“to run, gallop”) (whence French randonnée (“long walk, hike”)), from Frankish *randiju (“a run, race”) or Old Norse rend (“a run, race”), both from Proto-Germanic *randijō, from *rinnaną (“run”, verb), from Proto-Indo-European *(H)r̥-nw- (“to flow, move, run”). Cognate with Middle Low German uprinden (“to jump up”), Danish rende (“to run”). See run.

Synonyms

vagrant

This word in other languages

rondón(Español)quidam(Français)fulano(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: arndom,radnom,randdom,randmo,randomm,ranndom,ranodm,rnadom,rrandom

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of random - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

arndom2radnom2randdom1randmo2randomm1ranndom1ranodm2rnadom2
Edit distance from "random"

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 "random"?
"random" is spelled R-A-N-D-O-M. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈɹændəm/.
What does "random" mean?
As a noun, "random" means: A roving motion; course without definite direction; lack of rule or method; chance.
What words are commonly confused with "random"?
"random" is commonly confused with "randy", "rondo", "ransom". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "random"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "random" is /ˈɹændəm/. 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 "random"?
From earlier randon, from Middle English randoun, raundon, from Old French randon, from randir (“to run, gallop”) (whence French randonnée (“long walk, hike”)), from Frankish *randiju (“a run, race”) or Old Norse rend (“a run, race”), both from Pr... 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 “random”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is R-A-N-D-O-M - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈɹændəm/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “randy” - see the side-by-side comparison. random vs randy
  • 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.

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list