ribby

/ˈɹɪbi/

//ˈɹɪbi// adj

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

"ribby" is a 5-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“ribby” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as an adjective. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
5
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Pertaining to or having ribs; ribbed.

Key facts for ribby
PropertyValue
Headwordribby
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˈɹɪbi/
Letters5
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “ribby” sits in English frequency

ribby falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

ribby is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as anadjective, transcribed /ˈɹɪbi/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 3 senses are on record.

No generated misspelling entries exist for ribby in our index, since its letter sequence doesn't invite the usual edit-distance slips. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, since nothing in our dataset looks or sounds close enough to cause mix-ups.

Etymologically, the entry records: From rib + -y. The correct English form is ribby, spelled R-I-B-B-Y.

Definition

  1. 1
    Pertaining to or having ribs; ribbed.
  2. 2
    Specifically, thin so as to have prominent ribs; emaciated.
  3. 3
    Shabby, in poor condition.

Etymology

From rib + -y.

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "ribby"?
"ribby" is spelled R-I-B-B-Y. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈɹɪbi/.
What does "ribby" mean?
As an adjective, "ribby" means: Pertaining to or having ribs; ribbed.
How do you pronounce "ribby"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "ribby" is /ˈɹɪbi/. 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 "ribby"?
From rib + -y. 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 “ribby”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is R-I-B-B-Y - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈɹɪbi/ (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
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