scan

/skæn/

//skæn// verb

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

"scan" is a 4-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“scan” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #6,412 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#6,412
frequency rank, English
4
letters
6
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To examine sequentially, carefully, or critically; to scrutinize; to behold closely.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

scan vs son
50% similar
scan vs sea
50% similar
scan vs sun
50% similar

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

Key facts for scan
PropertyValue
Headwordscan
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/skæn/
Letters4
Frequency rank#6,412
Misspellings tracked6
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “scan” 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). scan 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 scan is 4 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /skæn/. Corpus data places it at rank #6,412 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 9 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 6 likely wrong-spelling variants for scan, with forms such as "csan", "sacn", and "scann". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 20 confusable-pair relationships, "son", "sea", "sun", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From late Middle English scanne (“to mark off verse to show metrical structure”), from earlier scanden, from Late Latin scandere (“to scan verse”), from Classical Latin scandō (“I climb, rise, mount”), from Proto-Indo-European *skend- (“to jump, dart, climb… The correct English form is scan, spelled S-C-A-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    To examine sequentially, carefully, or critically; to scrutinize; to behold closely.
  2. 2
    To examine sequentially, carefully, or critically; to scrutinize; to behold closely.
  3. 3
    To look about for; to look over quickly.
  4. 4
    To look about for; to look over quickly.
  5. 5
    To create an image of something with the use of a scanner.
  6. 6
    To read with an electronic device.
  7. 7
    To mount by steps; to go through with step by step.
  8. 8
    To read or mark so as to show a specific metre.
  9. 9
    To conform to a metrical structure.

Etymology

From late Middle English scanne (“to mark off verse to show metrical structure”), from earlier scanden, from Late Latin scandere (“to scan verse”), from Classical Latin scandō (“I climb, rise, mount”), from Proto-Indo-European *skend- (“to jump, dart, climb, scale, scan”).

This word in other languages

escrutar(Español)scanner(Français)scannen(Deutsch)varrer(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: csan,sacn,scann,sccan,scna,sscan

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

csan2sacn2scann1sccan1scna2sscan1
Edit distance from "scan"

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 "scan"?
"scan" is spelled S-C-A-N. The IPA pronunciation is /skæn/.
What does "scan" mean?
As a verb, "scan" means: To examine sequentially, carefully, or critically; to scrutinize; to behold closely.
What words are commonly confused with "scan"?
"scan" is commonly confused with "son", "sea", "sun". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "scan"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "scan" is /skæn/. 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 "scan"?
From late Middle English scanne (“to mark off verse to show metrical structure”), from earlier scanden, from Late Latin scandere (“to scan verse”), from Classical Latin scandō (“I climb, rise, mount”), from Proto-Indo-European *skend- (“to jump, d... 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 “scan”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is S-C-A-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /skæn/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “son” - see the side-by-side comparison. scan vs son
  • 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