retouch
/ɹɪˈtʌtʃ/
"retouch" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“retouch” is uncommon English (frequency #76,273 among 3,094 “R” headwords), classed as a verb. The kind of spelling people second-guess.
- #76,273
- frequency rank, English
- 3,094
- “R” headwords
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - To improve something (especially a photograph), by adding or correcting details, or by removing flaws.
Corpus desk
Index EN-retouch · retouch · English
retouch · rank #76,273 · 0 variants · 0 confusables
- FREQ-RARE #76,273
- LEN-LONG 7 letters
- VOW-3 3 vowels
- CONFUS-0 No pairs
- VAR-0 0 variants
- BOOK-MID 3,094
- PHOTO-FINISH Reichenbach
Nearest frequency peer: Reichenbach (-7 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 “retouch”
Sparse band: bars invert rank so rarer forms read shorter
- reformat
reformat
23,738 corpus weight
- rehashing
rehashing
23,736 corpus weight
- Reichenbach
Reichenbach
23,735 corpus weight
- retouch
retouch
23,728 corpus weight
- rookery
rookery
23,721 corpus weight
- rootstock
rootstock
23,719 corpus weight
What this shows Long-tail view: where “retouch” sits against similarly uncommon English ranks.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | retouch |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Verb |
| IPA | /ɹɪˈtʌtʃ/ |
| Letters | 7 |
| Frequency rank | #76,273 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Long-tail rank of “retouch” in English
Rare enough to double-check
retouch is uncommon English at frequency #76,273 among 3,094 “R” headwords, classed as averb, transcribed /ɹɪˈtʌtʃ/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 3 senses are on record.
We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for retouch, since its letter sequence doesn't invite the usual edit-distance slips. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, a sign it's visually distinctive enough not to be mixed up with another word.
Etymologically, the entry records: From French retoucher. The correct English form is retouch, spelled R-E-T-O-U-C-H.
Definition
- 1To improve something (especially a photograph), by adding or correcting details, or by removing flaws.
- 2To colour the roots of hair to match hair previously coloured.
- 3To modify a flint tool by making secondary flaking along the cutting edge.
Recorded use
Wiktionary exampleThese source excerpts show how retouch appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.
For time ſhall with his ready pencil ſtand; Retouch your figures with his ripening hand; Mellow your colors, and imbrown the teint; Add every grace, which time alone can grant; To future ages ſhall your fame convey, And give more beauties than he takes away.
Etymology
From French retoucher.
This word in other languages
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
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Similar English words by spelling shape
Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "retouch", not the corpus desk frequency band.
Same letter count
Frequency-ranked English headwords with 7 letters (nearest by frequency rank).