rector

/ˈɹɛktɚ/

//ˈɹɛktɚ// noun

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

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

The verdict

“rector” has 9 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #18,673. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#18,673
frequency rank, English
3,094
“R” headwords
9
tracked misspellings
17
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - In the Anglican Church, a cleric in charge of a parish and who owns the tithes of it.

Corpus desk

Index EN-rector · rector · English

rector · rank #18,673 · 9 variants · 17 confusables

  • FREQ-MID #18,673
  • LEN-LONG 6 letters
  • VOW-2 2 vowels
  • CONFUS-HIGH 17 pairs
  • VAR-MID 9 variants
  • BOOK-MID 3,094
  • PHOTO-FINISH regal

Nearest frequency peer: regal (+2 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Rank peers near misspelling magnet “rector”

Same rarity band: useful when a typo lands on a peer headword

corpus weight

What this shows “rector” sits among these FrequencyWords peers; misspelling depth is tracked separately in the edit-distance chart.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

rector vs rotor
67% similar
rector vs recur
67% similar
rector vs rectum
67% similar

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

Key facts for rector
PropertyValue
Headwordrector
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈɹɛktɚ/
Letters6
Frequency rank#18,673
Misspellings tracked9
Confusable pairs17
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “rector”

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right).rectorlands here:

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

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Same rarity band neighbours include “regal” (#18,675), “radiator” (#18,670), “relativity” (#18,676). Among 3,094 “R” headwords, “rector” is #18,673. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 9 spelling variants around rector (IPA /ˈɹɛktɚ/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #18,673 among 3,094 “R” headwords. Wiktionary lists 6 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 9 likely wrong-spelling variants for rector, with forms such as "erctor", "rcetor", and "recctor". 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. It also participates in 17 confusable-pair relationships, "rotor", "recur", "rectum", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: Inherited from Middle English rectour, rector, from Old French rector, rectour and Latin rēctor. The correct English form is rector, spelled R-E-C-T-O-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    In the Anglican Church, a cleric in charge of a parish and who owns the tithes of it.
  2. 2
    In the Roman Catholic Church, a cleric with managerial as well as spiritual responsibility for a church or other institution.
  3. 3
    A priest or bishop in the Orthodox Church who is in charge of a parish or in an administrative leadership position in a theological seminary or academy.
  4. 4
    In a Protestant church, a pastor in charge of a church with administrative and pastoral leadership combined.
  5. 5
    A headmaster or headmistress in various educational institutions, e.g., a university.
  6. 6
    An official in Scottish universities who heads the university court and is elected by and represents the student body.

Recorded use

Wiktionary example

These source excerpts show how rector appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. It was a joy to snatch some brief respite, and find himself in the rectory drawing–room. Listening here was as pleasant as talking; just to watch was pleasant. The young priests who lived here wore cassocks and birettas; their faces were fine and mild, yet really strong, like the rector's face; and in their intercourse with him and his wife they seemed to…

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English rectour, rector, from Old French rector, rectour and Latin rēctor.

This word in other languages

recteur(Français)Rektor(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • erctor
  • rcetor
  • recctor
  • recotr
  • rectorr
  • rectro
  • recttor
  • retcor
  • rrector

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of rector - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

erctor2rcetor2recctor1recotr2rectorr1rectro2recttor1retcor2
Edit distance from "rector"

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 "rector"?
"rector" is spelled R-E-C-T-O-R. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈɹɛktɚ/.
What does "rector" mean?
As a noun, "rector" means: In the Anglican Church, a cleric in charge of a parish and who owns the tithes of it.
What words are commonly confused with "rector"?
"rector" is commonly confused with "rotor", "recur", "rectum". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "rector"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "rector" is /ˈɹɛktɚ/. 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 "rector"?
Inherited from Middle English rectour, rector, from Old French rector, rectour and Latin rēctor. 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.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "rector", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 6 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

ridley#18,680rocker#18,682romero#18,683prized#18,662

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (9 here; floor ≥5).

quieter9 variantsSalman9 variantspricey9 variantssinful9 variants

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list