runaround
"runaround" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“runaround” is uncommon English (frequency #71,868 among 21,470 “R” headwords), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.
- #71,868
- frequency rank, English
- 21,470
- “R” headwords
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - An evasive explanation in the form of multiple excuses.
Corpus desk
Index EN-runaround · runaround · English
runaround · rank #71,868 · 0 variants · 0 confusables
- FREQ-RARE #71,868
- LEN-LONG 9 letters
- VOW-4 4 vowels
- CONFUS-0 No pairs
- VAR-0 0 variants
- BOOK-DENSE 21,470
- PHOTO-FINISH rumpled
Nearest frequency peer: rumpled (-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.
Frequency neighbourhood for “runaround”
Lower corpus rank = more everyday usage (inverted bar length for readability)
- rumple
rumple
28,135 corpus weight
- rumpled
rumpled
28,134 corpus weight
- runaround
runaround
28,133 corpus weight
- sagittal
sagittal
28,128 corpus weight
- sailfish
sailfish
28,127 corpus weight
- saltiness
saltiness
28,126 corpus weight
What this shows Bars show where “runaround” sits against the nearest ranked English headwords in the FrequencyWords band, not a reprint of letter-browse containment.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | runaround |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Noun |
| Letters | 9 |
| Frequency rank | #71,868 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “runaround” sits in English frequency
Rare enough to double-check
runaround is uncommon English at frequency #71,868 among 21,470 “R” headwords, classed as anoun. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 4 senses are on record.
No misspelling variants are generated for runaround in our index, a sign its spelling follows regular English conventions. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.
Etymologically, the entry records: Deverbal from run around. The correct English form is runaround, spelled R-U-N-A-R-O-U-N-D.
Definition
- 1An evasive explanation in the form of multiple excuses.
- 2A detour or route that bypasses an obstacle.
- 3A section of type that is narrower than that of the column it is part of; typically next to an illustration.
- 4A whitlow running around the fingernail but not affecting the bone.
Recorded use
Wiktionary exampleThese source excerpts show how runaround appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.
I called them to find out what had happened to my parcel, but all I got was a runaround.
Etymology
Deverbal from run around.
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.
PlainSpell is rendered directly from structured Wiktionary extracts and open word-frequency lists, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 6, 2026. Primary sources: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) and FrequencyWords.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Similar English words by spelling shape
Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "runaround", not the corpus desk frequency band.
Same letter count
Frequency-ranked English headwords with 9 letters (nearest by frequency 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.