rebate

/ˈɹiːbeɪt/

//ˈɹiːbeɪt// noun

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

The verdict

“rebate” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #19,434 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#19,434
frequency rank, English
6
letters
8
tracked misspellings
19
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A deduction from an amount that is paid; an abatement.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

rebate vs rebut
67% similar
rebate vs remote
67% similar
rebate vs relate
83% similar

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

Key facts for rebate
PropertyValue
Headwordrebate
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈɹiːbeɪt/
Letters6
Frequency rank#19,434
Misspellings tracked8
Confusable pairs19
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “rebate” 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). rebate 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 rebate is 6 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈɹiːbeɪt/. Corpus data places it at rank #19,434 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 7 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 8 likely wrong-spelling variants for rebate, with forms such as "erbate", "rbeate", and "reabte". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 19 confusable-pair relationships, "rebut", "remote", "relate", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Old French rabatre < batre. See also abate. The correct English form is rebate, spelled R-E-B-A-T-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    A deduction from an amount that is paid; an abatement.
  2. 2
    The return of part of an amount already paid.
  3. 3
    The edge of a roll of film, from which no image can be developed.
  4. 4
    A rectangular groove made to hold two pieces (of wood etc) together; a rabbet.
  5. 5
    A piece of wood hafted into a long stick, and serving to beat out mortar.
  6. 6
    An iron tool sharpened something like a chisel, and used for dressing and polishing wood.
  7. 7
    A kind of hard freestone used in making pavements.

Etymology

From Old French rabatre < batre. See also abate.

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: erbate,rbeate,reabte,rebaet,rebatte,rebbate,rebtae,rrebate

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

erbate2rbeate2reabte2rebaet2rebatte1rebbate1rebtae2rrebate1
Edit distance from "rebate"

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 "rebate"?
"rebate" is spelled R-E-B-A-T-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈɹiːbeɪt/.
What does "rebate" mean?
As a noun, "rebate" means: A deduction from an amount that is paid; an abatement.
What words are commonly confused with "rebate"?
"rebate" is commonly confused with "rebut", "remote", "relate". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "rebate"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "rebate" is /ˈɹiːbeɪt/. 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 "rebate"?
From Old French rabatre < batre. See also abate. 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 “rebate”

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

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