retractable

/ɹiˈtɹæk.tɪ.bəl/

//ɹiˈtɹæk.tɪ.bəl// adj

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

"retractable" is a 11-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“retractable” has 18 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #31,320. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#31,320
frequency rank, English
3,094
“R” headwords
18
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - Capable of being retracted; retractile.

Corpus desk

Index EN-retractable · retractable · English

retractable · rank #31,320 · 18 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-MID #31,320
  • LEN-MEGA 11 letters
  • VOW-4 4 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-HIGH 18 variants
  • BOOK-MID 3,094
  • PHOTO-FINISH retroactively

Nearest frequency peer: retroactively (+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 “retractable”

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

corpus weight

What this shows “retractable” 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
Key facts for retractable
PropertyValue
Headwordretractable
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ɹiˈtɹæk.tɪ.bəl/
Letters11
Frequency rank#31,320
Misspellings tracked18
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “retractable”

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).retractablelands here:

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

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Same rarity band neighbours include “retroactively” (#31,321), “repurchase” (#31,317), “reproach” (#31,316). Among 3,094 “R” headwords, “retractable” is #31,320. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 18 spelling variants around retractable (IPA /ɹiˈtɹæk.tɪ.bəl/), anadjective. Corpus frequency is #31,320 among 3,094 “R” headwords. Dominant gloss: "Capable of being retracted; retractile.".

Our generated misspelling index lists 18 likely wrong-spelling variants for retractable, with forms such as "ertractable", "rertactable", and "retarctable". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. 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: From retract + -able. The correct English form is retractable, spelled R-E-T-R-A-C-T-A-B-L-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    Capable of being retracted; retractile.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

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

  1. Retractable steps and handrails are provided on each side of the cars. The steps, which are under the control of the guard, are operated by hand levers in the entrance vestibule.
  2. Features such as trackless doors, mercury-type door interlocks, roof-mounted door fault indicator lights, rubber window glazing, improved retractable shoegear and a modified electro-pneumatic brake system designed to facilitate maintenance and improve reliability, which have proved their worth on the prototype trains, are continued in the new stock.

Etymology

From retract + -able.

This word in other languages

rétractable(Français)einziehbar(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • ertractable
  • rertactable
  • retarctable
  • retracatble
  • retracctable
  • retractabble
  • retractabel
  • retractablle
  • retractalbe
  • retractbale
  • retractible
  • retracttable
  • retratcable
  • retrcatable
  • retrractable
  • rettractable
  • rretractable
  • rteractable

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of retractable - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

ertractable2rertactable2retarctable2retracatble2retracctable1retractabble1retractabel2retractablle1
Edit distance from "retractable"

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 "retractable"?
"retractable" is spelled R-E-T-R-A-C-T-A-B-L-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ɹiˈtɹæk.tɪ.bəl/.
What does "retractable" mean?
As an adjective, "retractable" means: Capable of being retracted; retractile.
What are common misspellings of "retractable"?
Common misspellings include "ertractable", "rertactable", "retarctable", "retracatble", "retracctable". The correct spelling is "retractable".
How do you pronounce "retractable"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "retractable" is /ɹiˈtɹæk.tɪ.bəl/. 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 "retractable"?
From retract + -able. 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 "retractable", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 11 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

refreshment#31,312recombinant#31,311Mesopotamia#31,256impassioned#31,220

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (18 here; floor ≥5).

premeditated18 variantsparadoxically18 variantsmelodramatic18 variantsaerodynamics18 variants

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list