respec

/ɹi.spɛk/

//ɹi.spɛk// verb

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

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

The verdict

“respec” is uncommon English (frequency #72,711 among 3,094 “R” headwords), classed as a verb. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#72,711
frequency rank, English
3,094
“R” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - To reallocate the distribution of skill points on a character's skill tree, changing their specialization.

Corpus desk

Index EN-respec · respec · English

respec · rank #72,711 · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-RARE #72,711
  • LEN-LONG 6 letters
  • VOW-2 2 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-MID 3,094
  • PHOTO-FINISH reverently

Nearest frequency peer: reverently (+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.

Long-tail ranks near “respec”

Sparse band: bars invert rank so rarer forms read shorter

corpus weight

What this shows Long-tail view: where “respec” sits against similarly uncommon English ranks.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026
Key facts for respec
PropertyValue
Headwordrespec
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ɹi.spɛk/
Letters6
Frequency rank#72,711
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “respec” in English

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

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

Ticks step logarithmically, so each one marks a roughly tenfold drop in how often the word turns up. Rare peers in the same band: “reverently” (#72,712), “repetitious” (#72,709), “repackaging” (#72,708). Among 3,094 “R” headwords, “respec” is #72,711. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

respec is uncommon English at frequency #72,711 among 3,094 “R” headwords, classed as averb, transcribed /ɹi.spɛk/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. Gloss: "To reallocate the distribution of skill points on a character's skill tree, changing their specialization.".

respec doesn't appear in our generated misspelling index, suggesting the orthography follows predictable English patterns. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: Clipping of respecialize. The correct English form is respec, spelled R-E-S-P-E-C.

Definition

  1. 1
    To reallocate the distribution of skill points on a character's skill tree, changing their specialization.

Recorded use

Wiktionary example

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

  1. Last night I paid 5 gold to the trainer to respec as a shadow priest.

Etymology

Clipping of respecialize.

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 "respec"?
"respec" is spelled R-E-S-P-E-C. The IPA pronunciation is /ɹi.spɛk/.
What does "respec" mean?
As a verb, "respec" means: To reallocate the distribution of skill points on a character's skill tree, changing their specialization.
How do you pronounce "respec"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "respec" is /ɹi.spɛk/. 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 "respec"?
Clipping of respecialize. 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 "respec", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

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

regula#72,706robbin#72,723rappel#72,695ramrod#72,694

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list