redeem

/ɹɪˈdiːm/

//ɹɪˈdiːm// verb

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

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

The verdict

“redeem” has 8 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #14,397. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#14,397
frequency rank, English
3,094
“R” headwords
8
tracked misspellings
2
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - To recover ownership of something by buying it back.

Corpus desk

Index EN-redeem · redeem · English

redeem · rank #14,397 · 8 variants · 2 confusables

  • FREQ-MID #14,397
  • LEN-LONG 6 letters
  • VOW-3 3 vowels
  • CONFUS-LOW 2 pairs
  • VAR-MID 8 variants
  • BOOK-MID 3,094
  • PHOTO-FINISH recess

Nearest frequency peer: recess (-1 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 “redeem”

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

corpus weight

What this shows “redeem” 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).

redeem vs Renée
33% similar
redeem vs redeemer
75% similar

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

Key facts for redeem
PropertyValue
Headwordredeem
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ɹɪˈdiːm/
Letters6
Frequency rank#14,397
Misspellings tracked8
Confusable pairs2
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “redeem”

This scale runs from the tiny cluster of words that carry ordinary speech (left) to the long tail of words almost nobody reaches for (right).redeemlands here:

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

The axis is logarithmic, with each marked tick roughly ten times rarer than the last. Same rarity band neighbours include “recess” (#14,396), “reformation” (#14,398), “rebound” (#14,395). Among 3,094 “R” headwords, “redeem” is #14,397. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 8 spelling variants around redeem (IPA /ɹɪˈdiːm/), averb. Corpus frequency is #14,397 among 3,094 “R” headwords. Wiktionary lists 12 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 8 likely wrong-spelling variants for redeem, with forms such as "erdeem", "rdeeem", and "reddeem". 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 2 confusable-pair relationships, "Renée", "redeemer", where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English redemen, modified from Old French redimer, from Latin redimō (“release; obviate; atone for”), itself from red- (“back; again”) + emō (“buy; gain, take, procure”). The correct English form is redeem, spelled R-E-D-E-E-M.

Definition

  1. 1
    To recover ownership of something by buying it back.
  2. 2
    To liberate by payment of a ransom.
  3. 3
    To set free by force.
  4. 4
    To save, rescue.
  5. 5
    To clear, release from debt or blame.
  6. 6
    To expiate, atone (for).
  7. 7
    To convert (some bond or security) into cash.
  8. 8
    To save from a state of sin (and from its consequences).
  9. 9
    To repair, restore.
  10. 10
    To reform, change (for the better).
  11. 11
    To restore the honour, worth, or reputation of oneself or something.
  12. 12
    To reclaim.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

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

  1. Your Highneſſe needs not doubt but in ſhort time, He will with Tamburlaines deſtruction Redeeme you from this deadly ſeruitude.
  2. Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments ...

Etymology

From Middle English redemen, modified from Old French redimer, from Latin redimō (“release; obviate; atone for”), itself from red- (“back; again”) + emō (“buy; gain, take, procure”).

Synonyms

buy backrepurchase

Antonyms

abandon

This word in other languages

redimir(Español)racheter(Français)zurückkaufen(Deutsch)resgatar(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • erdeem
  • rdeeem
  • reddeem
  • redeemm
  • redem
  • redeme
  • reedem
  • rredeem

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

erdeem2rdeeem2reddeem1redeemm1redem1redeme2reedem2rredeem1
Edit distance from "redeem"

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 "redeem"?
"redeem" is spelled R-E-D-E-E-M. The IPA pronunciation is /ɹɪˈdiːm/.
What does "redeem" mean?
As a verb, "redeem" means: To recover ownership of something by buying it back.
What words are commonly confused with "redeem"?
"redeem" is commonly confused with "Renée", "redeemer". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "redeem"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "redeem" is /ɹɪˈdiːm/. 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 "redeem"?
From Middle English redemen, modified from Old French redimer, from Latin redimō (“release; obviate; atone for”), itself from red- (“back; again”) + emō (“buy; gain, take, procure”). 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 "redeem", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

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

recess#14,396runoff#14,404Rwanda#14,405quirky#14,388

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (8 here; floor ≥5).

Somali8 variantsomitted8 variantsSuzanne8 variantsKerala8 variants

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list