rattler

/ˈɹætələ(ɹ)/

//ˈɹætələ(ɹ)// noun

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

"rattler" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“rattler” is uncommon English (frequency #65,441 among 21,470 “R” headwords), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#65,441
frequency rank, English
21,470
“R” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Anything that rattles.

Key facts for rattler
PropertyValue
Headwordrattler
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈɹætələ(ɹ)/
Letters7
Frequency rank#65,441
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “rattler” 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). rattler lands here:

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

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

Rare enough to double-check

rattler is uncommon English at frequency #65,441 among 21,470 “R” headwords, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈɹætələ(ɹ)/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 7 senses are on record.

No misspelling variants are generated for rattler in our index, a straightforward case of a spelling with little room for common typos. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, since nothing in our dataset looks or sounds close enough to cause mix-ups.

Etymologically, the entry records: From rattle + -er. The correct English form is rattler, spelled R-A-T-T-L-E-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    Anything that rattles.
  2. 2
    A rattlesnake.
  3. 3
    A freight train or, (chiefly British), a passenger train.
  4. 4
    Any decrepit or noisy vehicle, such as a cart, carriage or train.
  5. 5
    A loud, inconsiderate talker.
  6. 6
    A stunning blow.
  7. 7
    An impudent lie; a whopper.

Etymology

From rattle + -er.

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 "rattler"?
"rattler" is spelled R-A-T-T-L-E-R. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈɹætələ(ɹ)/.
What does "rattler" mean?
As a noun, "rattler" means: Anything that rattles.
How do you pronounce "rattler"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "rattler" is /ˈɹætələ(ɹ)/. 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 "rattler"?
From rattle + -er. 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 “rattler”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is R-A-T-T-L-E-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈɹætələ(ɹ)/ (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

Other uncommon English words near this rank

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