scratch
/skɹæt͡ʃ/
"scratch" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“scratch” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #5,547 in English word frequency and used as a verb.
- #5,547
- frequency rank, English
- 7
- letters
- 12
- tracked misspellings
- 8
- confusable pairs
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To rub a surface with a sharp object, especially by a living creature to remove itching with nails, claws, etc.
Visual similarity to commonly confused words
How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).
Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).
| 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) |
Where “scratch” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for scratch is 7 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /skɹæt͡ʃ/. Corpus data places it at rank #5,547 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 14 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.
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
- 1To rub a surface with a sharp object, especially by a living creature to remove itching with nails, claws, etc.
- 2To rub the skin with rough material causing a sensation of irritation; to cause itching.
- 3To rub the skin with rough material causing a sensation of irritation; to cause itching.
- 4To mark a surface with a sharp object, thereby leaving a scratch (noun).
- 5To get such scratches.
- 6To cross out, strike out, strike through some text on a page.
- 7To cross out, strike out, strike through some text on a page.
- 8To produce a distinctive sound on a turntable by moving a vinyl record back and forth while manipulating the crossfader (see also scratching).
- 9To commit a foul in pool, as where the cue ball is put into a pocket or jumps off the table.
- 10To score, not by skillful play but by some fortunate chance of the game.
- 11To write or draw hastily or awkwardly; scrawl.
- 12To dig or excavate with the claws.
- 13To dig or scrape (a person's skin) with claws or fingernails in self-defense or with the intention to injure.
- 14To 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.
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
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.
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"?
What does "scratch" mean?
What words are commonly confused with "scratch"?
How do you pronounce "scratch"?
What is the origin of the word "scratch"?
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Using “scratch”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is S-C-R-A-T-C-H - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /skɹæt͡ʃ/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
- Don't mix it up with “snatch” - see the side-by-side comparison. scratch vs snatch
- 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.