scabrous

/ˈskeɪbɹəs/

//ˈskeɪbɹəs// adj

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

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

The verdict

“scabrous” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as an adjective - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
8
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Covered with scales or scabs; hence, very coarse or rough.

Key facts for scabrous
PropertyValue
Headwordscabrous
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˈskeɪbɹəs/
Letters8
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “scabrous” sits in English frequency

scabrous 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.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for scabrous is 8 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈskeɪbɹəs/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 7 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

scabrous doesn't appear in our generated misspelling index, suggesting the orthography follows predictable English patterns. No close-neighbour confusable shows up for this headword in our dataset, a sign it's visually distinctive enough not to be mixed up with another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from Latin scaber (“scabrous, rough; scabby, mangy, itchy”) (from scabō (“to scratch, scrape, abrade”), from Proto-Indo-European *skabʰ- (“to scratch”)) + English -ous; compare French scabreux, Late Latin scabrōsus. The correct English form is scabrous, spelled S-C-A-B-R-O-U-S.

Definition

  1. 1
    Covered with scales or scabs; hence, very coarse or rough.
  2. 2
    Disgusting, repellent.
  3. 3
    Salacious, scandalous; concerning oneself with lurid or lascivious substance.
  4. 4
    Of music, writing, etc.: lacking refinement; unmelodious, unmusical.
  5. 5
    Difficult, thorny, troublesome, requiring tact.
  6. 6
    Covered with a crust of dirt or grime.
  7. 7
    Having scabers.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin scaber (“scabrous, rough; scabby, mangy, itchy”) (from scabō (“to scratch, scrape, abrade”), from Proto-Indo-European *skabʰ- (“to scratch”)) + English -ous; compare French scabreux, Late Latin scabrōsus.

This word in other languages

scabreux(Français)schuppig(Deutsch)

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 "scabrous"?
"scabrous" is spelled S-C-A-B-R-O-U-S. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈskeɪbɹəs/.
What does "scabrous" mean?
As an adjective, "scabrous" means: Covered with scales or scabs; hence, very coarse or rough.
How do you pronounce "scabrous"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "scabrous" is /ˈskeɪbɹəs/. 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 "scabrous"?
Borrowed from Latin scaber (“scabrous, rough; scabby, mangy, itchy”) (from scabō (“to scratch, scrape, abrade”), from Proto-Indo-European *skabʰ- (“to scratch”)) + English -ous; compare French scabreux, Late Latin scabrōsus. 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 “scabrous”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is S-C-A-B-R-O-U-S - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈskeɪbɹəs/ (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 FrequencyWords open word-frequency list