rectitude

/ˈɹɛk.tɪ.tjuːd/

//ˈɹɛk.tɪ.tjuːd// noun

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

"rectitude" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“rectitude” is an uncommon English word, ranked #77,130 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#77,130
frequency rank, English
9
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Straightness; the state or quality of having a constant direction and not being crooked or bent.

Key facts for rectitude
PropertyValue
Headwordrectitude
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈɹɛk.tɪ.tjuːd/
Letters9
Frequency rank#77,130
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “rectitude” 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). rectitude 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 rectitude is 9 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈɹɛk.tɪ.tjuːd/. Corpus data places it at rank #77,130 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

No misspelling variants are generated for rectitude in our index, which points to an orthography that plays by predictable English rules. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English rectitude, from Middle French rectitude, from Late Latin rectitūdō (“straightness, uprightness”), from Latin rectus (“straight”), perfect passive participle of regō (“regulate, guide”). The correct English form is rectitude, spelled R-E-C-T-I-T-U-D-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    Straightness; the state or quality of having a constant direction and not being crooked or bent.
  2. 2
    The fact or quality of being right or correct; correctness of opinion or judgement.
  3. 3
    Conformity to the rules prescribed for moral conduct; (moral) uprightness, virtue.

Etymology

From Middle English rectitude, from Middle French rectitude, from Late Latin rectitūdō (“straightness, uprightness”), from Latin rectus (“straight”), perfect passive participle of regō (“regulate, guide”).

This word in other languages

rectitud(Español)rectitude(Français)retidão(Português)

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 "rectitude"?
"rectitude" is spelled R-E-C-T-I-T-U-D-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈɹɛk.tɪ.tjuːd/.
What does "rectitude" mean?
As a noun, "rectitude" means: Straightness; the state or quality of having a constant direction and not being crooked or bent.
How do you pronounce "rectitude"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "rectitude" is /ˈɹɛk.tɪ.tjuːd/. 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 "rectitude"?
From Middle English rectitude, from Middle French rectitude, from Late Latin rectitūdō (“straightness, uprightness”), from Latin rectus (“straight”), perfect passive participle of regō (“regulate, guide”). 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 “rectitude”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is R-E-C-T-I-T-U-D-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈɹɛk.tɪ.tjuːd/ (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