scaffold

/ˈskæf.əld/

//ˈskæf.əld// noun

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

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

The verdict

“scaffold” has 11 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #28,007. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#28,007
frequency rank, English
6,566
“S” headwords
11
tracked misspellings
1
confusable pair

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - A structure made of scaffolding for workers to stand on while working on a building.

Corpus desk

Index EN-scaffold · scaffold · English

scaffold · rank #28,007 · 11 variants · 1 confusable

  • FREQ-MID #28,007
  • LEN-LONG 8 letters
  • VOW-2 2 vowels
  • CONFUS-LOW 1 pairs
  • VAR-MID 11 variants
  • BOOK-DENSE 6,566
  • PHOTO-FINISH scavenger

Nearest frequency peer: scavenger (+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 “scaffold”

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

corpus weight

What this shows “scaffold” 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

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

scaffold vs Stafford
63% similar

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

Key facts for scaffold
PropertyValue
Headwordscaffold
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈskæf.əld/
Letters8
Frequency rank#28,007
Misspellings tracked11
Confusable pairs1
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “scaffold”

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

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

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Same rarity band neighbours include “scavenger” (#28,008), “schooner” (#28,009), “scion” (#28,010). Among 6,566 “S” headwords, “scaffold” is #28,007. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 11 spelling variants around scaffold (IPA /ˈskæf.əld/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #28,007 among 6,566 “S” headwords. Wiktionary lists 6 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

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

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English scaffold, scaffalde, from Anglo-Norman schaffaut, eschaffaut, eschafal, eschaiphal, escadafaut (“platform to see a tournament”) (Modern French échafaud), from Old French es- (indicating movement away or separation) (from Latin ex- (“out,… The correct English form is scaffold, spelled S-C-A-F-F-O-L-D.

Definition

  1. 1
    A structure made of scaffolding for workers to stand on while working on a building.
  2. 2
    An elevated platform on which a criminal is executed.
  3. 3
    An elevated platform on which dead bodies are ritually disposed of, as by some Native American tribes.
  4. 4
    An accumulation of adherent, partly fused material forming a shelf or dome-shaped obstruction above the tuyeres in a blast furnace.
  5. 5
    A structure that provides support for some other material.
  6. 6
    A device in scaffolding, i.e. the provision a framework or support for achieving an intended outcome of internalizing learnings by way of collaboration and later gradual withdrawal of support.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

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

  1. 1. A scaffold must be able to hold four times the load it is expected to carry. / 2. The footing for a scaffold must be level and solid and must not have motion when weight is applied. The scaffold must be level and plumb.
  2. It is quicker and easier to use a ladder as a means of access, but it is not always the safest. Jobs, such as painting, gutter repair, demolition work or window replacement, are often easier done using a scaffold. If the work can be completed comfortably using ladders, a scaffold need not be considered. Scaffolds must be capable of supporting building wor…

Etymology

From Middle English scaffold, scaffalde, from Anglo-Norman schaffaut, eschaffaut, eschafal, eschaiphal, escadafaut (“platform to see a tournament”) (Modern French échafaud), from Old French es- (indicating movement away or separation) (from Latin ex- (“out, away”)) + chafaud, chafaut, chafault, caafau, caafaus, cadefaut (“scaffold for executing a criminal”), from Vulgar Latin *catafalcum (“viewing stage”), possibly from Ancient Greek κατα- (kata-, “back; against”) + Latin -falicum (from fala, phala (“wooden gallery or tower; siege tower”)).

This word in other languages

andamio(Español)échafaudage(Français)Gerüst(Deutsch)andaime(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • csaffold
  • sacffold
  • scafflod
  • scaffodl
  • scaffoldd
  • scaffolld
  • scafofld
  • scafold
  • sccaffold
  • scfafold
  • sscaffold

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of scaffold - 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.

csaffold2sacffold2scafflod2scaffodl2scaffoldd1scaffolld1scafofld2scafold1
Edit distance from "scaffold"

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 "scaffold"?
"scaffold" is spelled S-C-A-F-F-O-L-D. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈskæf.əld/.
What does "scaffold" mean?
As a noun, "scaffold" means: A structure made of scaffolding for workers to stand on while working on a building.
What words are commonly confused with "scaffold"?
"scaffold" is commonly confused with "Stafford". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "scaffold"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "scaffold" is /ˈskæf.əld/. 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 "scaffold"?
From Middle English scaffold, scaffalde, from Anglo-Norman schaffaut, eschaffaut, eschafal, eschaiphal, escadafaut (“platform to see a tournament”) (Modern French échafaud), from Old French es- (indicating movement away or separation) (from Latin ... 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 "scaffold", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 8 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

schooner#28,009solemnly#28,026starling#28,031preorder#27,972

Similar misspelling depth

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

showbiz11 variantsretract11 variantsrancher11 variantsPornhub11 variants

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list