scrutinize
/ˈskɹuːtɨnaɪz/
"scrutinize" is a 10-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“scrutinize” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #39,079 in English word frequency and used as a verb.
- #39,079
- frequency rank, English
- 10
- letters
- 15
- tracked misspellings
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To examine something with great care or detail, as to look for hidden or obscure flaws.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | scrutinize |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Verb |
| IPA | /ˈskɹuːtɨnaɪz/ |
| Letters | 10 |
| Frequency rank | #39,079 |
| Misspellings tracked | 15 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “scrutinize” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for scrutinize is 10 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈskɹuːtɨnaɪz/. Corpus data places it at rank #39,079 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 15 likely wrong-spelling variants for scrutinize, with forms such as "csrutinize", "sccrutinize", and "scrrutinize". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.
Etymologically, the entry records: From scrutiny + -ize. The correct English form is scrutinize, spelled S-C-R-U-T-I-N-I-Z-E.
Definition
- 1To examine something with great care or detail, as to look for hidden or obscure flaws.
- 2To audit accounts etc in order to verify them.
Etymology
From scrutiny + -ize.
This word in other languages
Common misspellings
Also misspelled as: csrutinize,sccrutinize,scrrutinize,scrtuinize,scruitnize,scrutiinze,scrutiniez,scrutinizze,scrutinnize,scrutinzie,scrutniize,scruttinize,scurtinize,srcutinize,sscrutinize
Misspelling Pattern Breakdown
How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of scrutinize - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.
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 "scrutinize"?
What does "scrutinize" mean?
What are common misspellings of "scrutinize"?
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What is the origin of the word "scrutinize"?
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Using “scrutinize”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is S-C-R-U-T-I-N-I-Z-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /ˈskɹuːtɨnaɪz/ (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.