scratch

Name: scratch, English Word Data
Creator: Wiktionary
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

/skɹæt͡ʃ/

//skɹæt͡ʃ// verb

By PlainSpell · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) · analyzed September 3, 2026

The verdict

“scratch” has 12 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #5,547. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#5,547
frequency rank, English: 6,566
“S” headwords: 12
tracked misspellings: 8
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - To rub a surface with a sharp object, especially by a living creature to remove itching with nails, claws, etc.

Corpus desk

Index EN-scratch · scratch · English

scratch · rank #5,547 · 12 variants · 8 confusables

FREQ-COMMON #5,547
LEN-LONG 7 letters
VOW-1 1 vowel
CONFUS-MID 8 pairs
VAR-MID 12 variants
BOOK-DENSE 6,566
PHOTO-FINISH satisfaction

Nearest frequency peer: satisfaction (-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.

saints

94,456
satisfaction

94,455
scratch

94,454
shade

94,453
sheets

94,452
sheriff

94,451

What this shows “scratch” sits among these FrequencyWords peers; misspelling depth is tracked separately in the edit-distance chart.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

scratch vs snatch

71% similar

scratch vs swatch

71% similar

scratch vs stretch

71% similar

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

Key facts for scratch
Property	Value
Headword	scratch
Language	English
Part of speech	Verb
IPA	/skɹæt͡ʃ/
Letters	7
Frequency rank	#5,547
Misspellings tracked	12
Confusable pairs	8
Source	Wiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “scratch”

This scale runs from the tiny cluster of words that carry ordinary speech (left) to the long tail of words almost nobody reaches for (right).scratchlands here:

#5,547

#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 “satisfaction” (#5,546), “shade” (#5,548), “saints” (#5,545). Among 6,566 “S” headwords, “scratch” is #5,547. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 12 spelling variants around scratch (IPA /skɹæt͡ʃ/), averb. Corpus frequency is #5,547 among 6,566 “S” headwords. Wiktionary lists 14 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 12 likely wrong-spelling variants for scratch, with forms such as "csratch", "scartch", and "sccratch". 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 8 confusable-pair relationships, "snatch", "swatch", "stretch", and more, 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 scracchen, of uncertain origin. Probably a blend of Middle English scratten (“to scratch”) and cracchen (“to scratch”). More at scrat and cratch. The correct English form is scratch, spelled S-C-R-A-T-C-H.

Definition

1
To rub a surface with a sharp object, especially by a living creature to remove itching with nails, claws, etc.
2
To rub the skin with rough material causing a sensation of irritation; to cause itching.
3
To rub the skin with rough material causing a sensation of irritation; to cause itching.
4
To mark a surface with a sharp object, thereby leaving a scratch (noun).
5
To get such scratches.
6
To cross out, strike out, strike through some text on a page.
7
To cross out, strike out, strike through some text on a page.
8
To produce a distinctive sound on a turntable by moving a vinyl record back and forth while manipulating the crossfader (see also scratching).
9
To commit a foul in pool, as where the cue ball is put into a pocket or jumps off the table.
10
To score, not by skillful play but by some fortunate chance of the game.
11
To write or draw hastily or awkwardly; scrawl.
12
To dig or excavate with the claws.
13
To dig or scrape (a person's skin) with claws or fingernails in self-defense or with the intention to injure.
14
To announce one's non-participation in a race or sports event part of a larger sports meeting that one was previously signed up for, usually in lieu of another event at the same meeting.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

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

Could you please scratch my back?
Then riſing with Aurora’s Light, / The Muse invok’d, ſit down to write; / Blot out, correct, inſert, refine, / Enlarge, diminiſh, interline; / Be mindful, when Invention fails, / To ſcratch your Head, and bite your Nails.

Etymology

From Middle English scracchen, of uncertain origin. Probably a blend of Middle English scratten (“to scratch”) and cracchen (“to scratch”). More at scrat and cratch.

This word in other languages

rascar(Español)gratter(Français)kratzen(Deutsch)coçar(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

csratch
scartch
sccratch
scracth
scratcch
scratchh
scrathc
scrattch
scrratch
scrtach
srcatch
sscratch

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

Edit distance from "scratch"

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 "scratch"?

"scratch" is spelled S-C-R-A-T-C-H. The IPA pronunciation is /skɹæt͡ʃ/.

What does "scratch" mean?

As a verb, "scratch" means: To rub a surface with a sharp object, especially by a living creature to remove itching with nails, claws, etc.

What words are commonly confused with "scratch"?

"scratch" is commonly confused with "snatch", "swatch", "stretch". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.

How do you pronounce "scratch"?

The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "scratch" is /skɹæt͡ʃ/. 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 "scratch"?

From Middle English scracchen, of uncertain origin. Probably a blend of Middle English scratten (“to scratch”) and cracchen (“to scratch”). More at scrat and cratch. 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 "scratch", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

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

sheriff#5,550 Roberts#5,542 spirits#5,553 remarks#5,540

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (12 here; floor ≥5).

sunshine12 variants admission12 variants marathon12 variants Manhattan12 variants