sarcasm

/ˈsɑːɹˌkæzəm/

//ˈsɑːɹˌkæzəm// noun

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

"sarcasm" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“sarcasm” has 11 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #12,676. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#12,676
frequency rank, English
6,566
“S” headwords
11
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - Use of acerbic language to mock or convey contempt, often using verbal irony and (in speech) often marked by overemphasis and sneering.

Corpus desk

Index EN-sarcasm · sarcasm · English

sarcasm · rank #12,676 · 11 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-MID #12,676
  • LEN-LONG 7 letters
  • VOW-2 2 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-MID 11 variants
  • BOOK-DENSE 6,566
  • PHOTO-FINISH Savannah

Nearest frequency peer: Savannah (+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 “sarcasm”

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

corpus weight

What this shows “sarcasm” 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 sarcasm
PropertyValue
Headwordsarcasm
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈsɑːɹˌkæzəm/
Letters7
Frequency rank#12,676
Misspellings tracked11
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “sarcasm”

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right).sarcasmlands here:

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

Ticks step logarithmically, so each one marks a roughly tenfold drop in how often the word turns up. Same rarity band neighbours include “Savannah” (#12,677), “sabotage” (#12,674), “Rudy” (#12,673). Among 6,566 “S” headwords, “sarcasm” is #12,676. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 11 spelling variants around sarcasm (IPA /ˈsɑːɹˌkæzəm/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #12,676 among 6,566 “S” headwords. Wiktionary lists 2 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 11 likely wrong-spelling variants for sarcasm, with forms such as "asrcasm", "sacrasm", and "saracsm". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. Our dataset records no confusable match here, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Late Latin sarcasmus, from Ancient Greek σαρκασμός (sarkasmós, “a sneer”), from σαρκάζω (sarkázō, “I gnash the teeth (in anger)”, literally “I strip off the flesh”), from σάρξ (sárx, “flesh”). The correct English form is sarcasm, spelled S-A-R-C-A-S-M.

Definition

  1. 1
    Use of acerbic language to mock or convey contempt, often using verbal irony and (in speech) often marked by overemphasis and sneering.
  2. 2
    An individual act of the above.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

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

  1. Although the Celebrity was almost impervious to sarcasm, he was now beginning to exhibit visible signs of uneasiness, the consciousness dawning upon him that his eccentricity was not receiving the ovation it merited.
  2. 2015, Alex Kozinski, Demuth v. County of Los Angeles, 798 F.3d 837, 839 (9th Cir. 2015). While challenging someone equipped with a badge, handcuffs and a gun to “arrest me” was unwise on Demuth’s part, we fail to see what legal difference her statement makes. Demuth certainly could not authorize her own arrest and, in any event, Li could not reasonably ha…

Etymology

From Late Latin sarcasmus, from Ancient Greek σαρκασμός (sarkasmós, “a sneer”), from σαρκάζω (sarkázō, “I gnash the teeth (in anger)”, literally “I strip off the flesh”), from σάρξ (sárx, “flesh”).

Synonyms

derisionfacetiousnessironyridiculesatiretauntgibe

This word in other languages

sarcasmo(Español)sarcasme(Français)Sarkasmus(Deutsch)sarcasmo(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • asrcasm
  • sacrasm
  • saracsm
  • sarcams
  • sarcasmm
  • sarcassm
  • sarccasm
  • sarcsam
  • sarrcasm
  • sracasm
  • ssarcasm

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of sarcasm - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

asrcasm2sacrasm2saracsm2sarcams2sarcasmm1sarcassm1sarccasm1sarcsam2
Edit distance from "sarcasm"

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 "sarcasm"?
"sarcasm" is spelled S-A-R-C-A-S-M. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈsɑːɹˌkæzəm/.
What does "sarcasm" mean?
As a noun, "sarcasm" means: Use of acerbic language to mock or convey contempt, often using verbal irony and (in speech) often marked by overemphasis and sneering.
What are common misspellings of "sarcasm"?
Common misspellings include "asrcasm", "sacrasm", "saracsm", "sarcams", "sarcasmm". The correct spelling is "sarcasm".
How do you pronounce "sarcasm"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "sarcasm" is /ˈsɑːɹˌkæzəm/. 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 "sarcasm"?
From Late Latin sarcasmus, from Ancient Greek σαρκασμός (sarkasmós, “a sneer”), from σαρκάζω (sarkázō, “I gnash the teeth (in anger)”, literally “I strip off the flesh”), from σάρξ (sárx, “flesh”). 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 "sarcasm", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 7 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

seekers#12,679shaving#12,682renting#12,669slammed#12,685

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (11 here; floor ≥5).

sabotage11 variantspavilion11 variantsValencia11 variantswrecked11 variants

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list