ratfink
/ˈɹætfɪŋk/
"ratfink" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“ratfink” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a noun - the kind of word writers most often double-check.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 7
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - An informer or spy; a traitor.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | ratfink |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Noun |
| IPA | /ˈɹætfɪŋk/ |
| Letters | 7 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “ratfink” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for ratfink is 7 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈɹætfɪŋk/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.
We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for ratfink, which points to an orthography that plays by predictable English rules. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.
Etymologically, the entry records: From rat + fink. The correct English form is ratfink, spelled R-A-T-F-I-N-K.
Definition
- 1An informer or spy; a traitor.
- 2A dislikable or contemptible person.
- 3A strikebreaker.
Etymology
From rat + fink.
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Using “ratfink”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is R-A-T-F-I-N-K - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /ˈɹætfɪŋk/ (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
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.