reclaim

/ɹɪˈkleɪm/

//ɹɪˈkleɪm// verb

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

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

The verdict

“reclaim” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #16,319 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#16,319
frequency rank, English
7
letters
10
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To return land to a suitable condition for use.

Key facts for reclaim
PropertyValue
Headwordreclaim
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ɹɪˈkleɪm/
Letters7
Frequency rank#16,319
Misspellings tracked10
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “reclaim” 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). reclaim 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 reclaim is 7 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɹɪˈkleɪm/. Corpus data places it at rank #16,319 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 10 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 10 likely wrong-spelling variants for reclaim, with forms such as "erclaim", "rcelaim", and "recalim". 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. No close-neighbour confusable shows up for this headword in our dataset, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English reclaymen, recleymen, reclamen, from Anglo-Norman reclamer (noun reclaim and Middle French reclamer (noun reclaim), from Latin reclāmō, reclāmāre. Equivalent to re- + claim. The correct English form is reclaim, spelled R-E-C-L-A-I-M.

Definition

  1. 1
    To return land to a suitable condition for use.
  2. 2
    To obtain useful products from waste; to recycle.
  3. 3
    To claim something back; to repossess.
  4. 4
    To return someone to a proper course of action, or correct an error; to reform.
  5. 5
    To tame or domesticate a wild animal.
  6. 6
    To call back from flight or disorderly action; to call to, for the purpose of subduing or quieting.
  7. 7
    To cry out in opposition or contradiction; to exclaim against anything; to contradict; to take exceptions.
  8. 8
    To draw back; to give way.
  9. 9
    To appeal from the Lord Ordinary to the inner house of the Court of Session.
  10. 10
    To bring back a term into acceptable usage, usually of a slur, and usually by the group that was once targeted by that slur.

Etymology

From Middle English reclaymen, recleymen, reclamen, from Anglo-Norman reclamer (noun reclaim and Middle French reclamer (noun reclaim), from Latin reclāmō, reclāmāre. Equivalent to re- + claim.

This word in other languages

recuperar(Español)reprendre(Français)reclamar(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: erclaim,rcelaim,recalim,recclaim,reclaimm,reclami,recliam,recllaim,relcaim,rreclaim

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

erclaim2rcelaim2recalim2recclaim1reclaimm1reclami2recliam2recllaim1
Edit distance from "reclaim"

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 "reclaim"?
"reclaim" is spelled R-E-C-L-A-I-M. The IPA pronunciation is /ɹɪˈkleɪm/.
What does "reclaim" mean?
As a verb, "reclaim" means: To return land to a suitable condition for use.
What are common misspellings of "reclaim"?
Common misspellings include "erclaim", "rcelaim", "recalim", "recclaim", "reclaimm". The correct spelling is "reclaim".
How do you pronounce "reclaim"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "reclaim" is /ɹɪˈkleɪm/. 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 "reclaim"?
From Middle English reclaymen, recleymen, reclamen, from Anglo-Norman reclamer (noun reclaim and Middle French reclamer (noun reclaim), from Latin reclāmō, reclāmāre. Equivalent to re- + claim. 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 “reclaim”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is R-E-C-L-A-I-M - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ɹɪˈkleɪm/ (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.

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

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