reticle

/ˈɹɛtɪkəl/

//ˈɹɛtɪkəl// noun

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

"reticle" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“reticle” is uncommon English (frequency #59,670 among 21,470 “R” headwords), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#59,670
frequency rank, English
21,470
“R” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A transparent plate marked with a crosshair, grid, or scale which is used in an optical instrument, etc., to aid in alignment, counting, or measurement of objects being observed; also, the crosshai...

Key facts for reticle
PropertyValue
Headwordreticle
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈɹɛtɪkəl/
Letters7
Frequency rank#59,670
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “reticle” 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). reticle lands here:

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

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

reticle is uncommon English at frequency #59,670 among 21,470 “R” headwords, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈɹɛtɪkəl/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 3 senses are on record.

reticle has no tracked misspelling variants, a sign its spelling follows regular English conventions. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from Late Latin rēticulum, diminutive of Latin rēte (“net”). Doublet of reticulum, Reticulum, and reticule. The correct English form is reticle, spelled R-E-T-I-C-L-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    A transparent plate marked with a crosshair, grid, or scale which is used in an optical instrument, etc., to aid in alignment, counting, or measurement of objects being observed; also, the crosshair, grid, or scale on such a plate.
  2. 2
    A master or template, comprising a pattern of lines and shapes, used in photolithography to create the tiny integrated circuits on a microchip.
  3. 3
    Alternative form of reticule (“a little bag”).

Etymology

Borrowed from Late Latin rēticulum, diminutive of Latin rēte (“net”). Doublet of reticulum, Reticulum, and reticule.

This word in other languages

retículo(Español)réticule(Français)Fadenkreuz(Deutsch)retículo(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 "reticle"?
"reticle" is spelled R-E-T-I-C-L-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈɹɛtɪkəl/.
What does "reticle" mean?
As a noun, "reticle" means: A transparent plate marked with a crosshair, grid, or scale which is used in an optical instrument, etc., to aid in alignment, counting, or measurement of objects being observed; also, the crosshai...
How do you pronounce "reticle"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "reticle" is /ˈɹɛtɪkəl/. 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 "reticle"?
Borrowed from Late Latin rēticulum, diminutive of Latin rēte (“net”). Doublet of reticulum, Reticulum, and reticule. 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 “reticle”

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

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

Other uncommon English words near this rank

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