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” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #18,673 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#18,673
frequency rank, English
6
letters
9
tracked misspellings
17
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - In the Anglican Church, a cleric in charge of a parish and who owns the tithes of it.

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)

Where “rector” 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). rector 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 rector is 6 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈɹɛktɚ/. Corpus data places it at rank #18,673 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 6 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

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.

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.

Using “rector”

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

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