scolex

noun

"scolex" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“scolex” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
6
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - The structure at the front end of a tapeworm which, in the adult, has suckers and hooks by which it attaches itself to a host.

Corpus desk

Index EN-scolex · scolex · English

scolex · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
  • LEN-LONG 6 letters
  • VOW-2 2 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-THIN "S" thin
  • PHOTO-UNK Peer pending

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.

Key facts for scolex
PropertyValue
Headwordscolex
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
Letters6
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “scolex” in English

scolexranks outside the top 100,000 English headwords, in the long tail of specialist, archaic, or seldom-used vocabulary, exactly the territory where a reader stops mid-sentence to double-check spelling.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

scolex is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as anoun. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. Gloss: "The structure at the front end of a tapeworm which, in the adult, has suckers and hooks by which it attaches itself to a host.".

Zero misspellings are on record for scolex in our index, a straightforward case of a spelling with little room for common typos. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from Ancient Greek σκώληξ (skṓlēx, “worm”). The correct English form is scolex, spelled S-C-O-L-E-X.

Definition

  1. 1
    The structure at the front end of a tapeworm which, in the adult, has suckers and hooks by which it attaches itself to a host.

Recorded use

Wiktionary example

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

  1. The head, with the circle of hooklets and the four suckers, is then formed at the anterior part of the embryo, constituting now the scolex of Van Beneden.

Etymology

Borrowed from Ancient Greek σκώληξ (skṓlēx, “worm”).

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 "scolex"?
"scolex" is spelled S-C-O-L-E-X.
What does "scolex" mean?
As a noun, "scolex" means: The structure at the front end of a tapeworm which, in the adult, has suckers and hooks by which it attaches itself to a host.
What is the origin of the word "scolex"?
Borrowed from Ancient Greek σκώληξ (skṓlēx, “worm”). 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.

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list