riddance

/ˈɹɪd(ə)n(t)s/

//ˈɹɪd(ə)n(t)s// noun

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

"riddance" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“riddance” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #33,003 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#33,003
frequency rank, English
8
letters
11
tracked misspellings
1
confusable pair

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - An act of ridding, clearance, or removal; elimination.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

riddance vs radiance
75% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for riddance
PropertyValue
Headwordriddance
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈɹɪd(ə)n(t)s/
Letters8
Frequency rank#33,003
Misspellings tracked11
Confusable pairs1
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “riddance” 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). riddance lands here:

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

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

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for riddance is 8 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈɹɪd(ə)n(t)s/. Corpus data places it at rank #33,003 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 11 likely wrong-spelling variants for riddance, with forms such as "irddance", "rdidance", and "ridadnce". 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. It also participates in 1 confusable-pair relationship, "radiance", a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: Apparently an alteration of earlier Middle English riddeings, ryddyngs, reddyngs (“clearings, clearances”), plural of riddyng, riddynge, rudyng (“clearing away, removal”), partially continuing Old English hryding (“a clearing, cleared land”), by surface ana… The correct English form is riddance, spelled R-I-D-D-A-N-C-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    An act of ridding, clearance, or removal; elimination.
  2. 2
    Deliverance, release, setting free; a relief involving getting rid of something.
  3. 3
    The earth thrown up by a burrowing animal.

Etymology

Apparently an alteration of earlier Middle English riddeings, ryddyngs, reddyngs (“clearings, clearances”), plural of riddyng, riddynge, rudyng (“clearing away, removal”), partially continuing Old English hryding (“a clearing, cleared land”), by surface analysis, rid + -ance.

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: irddance,rdidance,ridadnce,ridance,riddacne,riddancce,riddanec,riddannce,riddence,riddnace,rriddance

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of riddance - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

irddance2rdidance2ridadnce2ridance1riddacne2riddancce1riddanec2riddannce1
Edit distance from "riddance"

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 "riddance"?
"riddance" is spelled R-I-D-D-A-N-C-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈɹɪd(ə)n(t)s/.
What does "riddance" mean?
As a noun, "riddance" means: An act of ridding, clearance, or removal; elimination.
What words are commonly confused with "riddance"?
"riddance" is commonly confused with "radiance". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "riddance"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "riddance" is /ˈɹɪd(ə)n(t)s/. 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 "riddance"?
Apparently an alteration of earlier Middle English riddeings, ryddyngs, reddyngs (“clearings, clearances”), plural of riddyng, riddynge, rudyng (“clearing away, removal”), partially continuing Old English hryding (“a clearing, cleared land”), by s... 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 “riddance”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is R-I-D-D-A-N-C-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈɹɪd(ə)n(t)s/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “radiance” - see the side-by-side comparison. riddance vs radiance
  • 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 FrequencyWords open word-frequency list