screwdriver

/ˈskɹuˌdɹaɪvɚ/

//ˈskɹuˌdɹaɪvɚ// noun

"screwdriver" is a 11-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“screwdriver” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #24,585 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#24,585
frequency rank, English
11
letters
18
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A hand tool or power tool which engages with the head of a screw and allows torque to be applied to turn the screw, thus driving it in or loosening it.

Key facts for screwdriver
PropertyValue
Headwordscrewdriver
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈskɹuˌdɹaɪvɚ/
Letters11
Frequency rank#24,585
Misspellings tracked18
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “screwdriver” 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). screwdriver 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 screwdriver is 11 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈskɹuˌdɹaɪvɚ/. Corpus data places it at rank #24,585 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 2 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 18 likely wrong-spelling variants for screwdriver, with forms such as "csrewdriver", "sccrewdriver", and "scerwdriver". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. Our dataset records no confusable match here, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: Compound of screw + driver. The correct English form is screwdriver, spelled S-C-R-E-W-D-R-I-V-E-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    A hand tool or power tool which engages with the head of a screw and allows torque to be applied to turn the screw, thus driving it in or loosening it.
  2. 2
    A cocktail made of vodka and orange juice.

Etymology

Compound of screw + driver.

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: csrewdriver,sccrewdriver,scerwdriver,scredwriver,screwddriver,screwdirver,screwdrievr,screwdriverr,screwdrivre,screwdrivver,screwdrriver,screwdrvier,screwrdiver,screwwdriver,scrrewdriver,scrwedriver,srcewdriver,sscrewdriver

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

csrewdriver2sccrewdriver1scerwdriver2scredwriver2screwddriver1screwdirver2screwdrievr2screwdriverr1
Edit distance from "screwdriver"

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 "screwdriver"?
"screwdriver" is spelled S-C-R-E-W-D-R-I-V-E-R. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈskɹuˌdɹaɪvɚ/.
What does "screwdriver" mean?
As a noun, "screwdriver" means: A hand tool or power tool which engages with the head of a screw and allows torque to be applied to turn the screw, thus driving it in or loosening it.
What are common misspellings of "screwdriver"?
Common misspellings include "csrewdriver", "sccrewdriver", "scerwdriver", "scredwriver", "screwddriver". The correct spelling is "screwdriver".
How do you pronounce "screwdriver"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "screwdriver" is /ˈskɹuˌdɹaɪvɚ/. 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 "screwdriver"?
Compound of screw + driver. 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 “screwdriver”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is S-C-R-E-W-D-R-I-V-E-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈskɹuˌdɹaɪvɚ/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • 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