semblance

/ˈsɛmblən(t)s/

//ˈsɛmblən(t)s// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"semblance" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“semblance” has 15 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #25,569. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#25,569
frequency rank, English
6,566
“S” headwords
15
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - The outward appearance or form of a person or thing.

Corpus desk

Index EN-semblance · semblance · English

semblance · rank #25,569 · 15 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-MID #25,569
  • LEN-LONG 9 letters
  • VOW-3 3 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-HIGH 15 variants
  • BOOK-DENSE 6,566
  • PHOTO-FINISH sedimentary

Nearest frequency peer: sedimentary (-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.

Rank peers near misspelling magnet “semblance”

Same rarity band: useful when a typo lands on a peer headword

corpus weight

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

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026
Key facts for semblance
PropertyValue
Headwordsemblance
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈsɛmblən(t)s/
Letters9
Frequency rank#25,569
Misspellings tracked15
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “semblance”

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right).semblancelands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

The axis is logarithmic, with each marked tick roughly ten times rarer than the last. Same rarity band neighbours include “sedimentary” (#25,568), “sensei” (#25,570), “seater” (#25,567). Among 6,566 “S” headwords, “semblance” is #25,569. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 15 spelling variants around semblance (IPA /ˈsɛmblən(t)s/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #25,569 among 6,566 “S” headwords. Wiktionary lists 10 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 15 likely wrong-spelling variants for semblance, with forms such as "esmblance", "sebmlance", and "sembalnce". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, which typically means the spelling is too distinctive to be mistaken for another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English semblaunce (“outward appearance, form; appearance without reality; condition or fact of being apparent; symbolic image; facial expression, countenance; conduct, manner; image, likeness; analogy, comparison”), from Anglo-Norman semblaunce… The correct English form is semblance, spelled S-E-M-B-L-A-N-C-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    The outward appearance or form of a person or thing.
  2. 2
    The outward appearance or form of a person or thing.
  3. 3
    The outward appearance or form of a person or thing.
  4. 4
    Followed by of: a person or thing that is seen; an apparition, a vision.
  5. 5
    Followed by of: a person or thing that looks similar to another person or thing; a likeness.
  6. 6
    Followed by of: a bare or mere appearance of something.
  7. 7
    A person's non-verbal behaviour or demeanour which shows their feelings, thoughts, etc., or which is faked to hide such true feelings, thoughts, etc.
  8. 8
    In the form make semblance: an act of appearing; an appearance, a manifestation; also, a false appearance, a pretence.
  9. 9
    The quality or state of being similar; likeness, resemblance, similarity.
  10. 10
    The chance of something happening; likelihood, probability.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

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

  1. Oft haue I ſeene a timely-parted Ghoſt, / Of aſhy ſemblance, meager, pale, and bloodleſſe, […]
  2. Be you the Souldier, for you likeſt are / For manly ſemblance, and ſmall skill in vvarre: […]

Etymology

From Middle English semblaunce (“outward appearance, form; appearance without reality; condition or fact of being apparent; symbolic image; facial expression, countenance; conduct, manner; image, likeness; analogy, comparison”), from Anglo-Norman semblaunce and Old French semblance (modern French semblance), from semblant, the present participle of sembler (“to appear; to resemble, seem”), from Late Latin similāre, the present active infinitive of similō, a variant of Latin simulō (“to act or behave as if; to imitate, simulate”), from similis (“like resembling, similar to”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *sem- (“one; together”)) + -ō (suffix forming regular first-conjugation verbs). By surface analysis, semble + -ance (suffix forming nouns denoting conditions or states).

This word in other languages

semblanza(Español)Anschein(Deutsch)semelhança(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • esmblance
  • sebmlance
  • sembalnce
  • sembblance
  • semblacne
  • semblancce
  • semblanec
  • semblannce
  • semblence
  • sembllance
  • semblnace
  • semlbance
  • semmblance
  • smeblance
  • ssemblance

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of semblance - 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.

esmblance2sebmlance2sembalnce2sembblance1semblacne2semblancce1semblanec2semblannce1
Edit distance from "semblance"

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 "semblance"?
"semblance" is spelled S-E-M-B-L-A-N-C-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈsɛmblən(t)s/.
What does "semblance" mean?
As a noun, "semblance" means: The outward appearance or form of a person or thing.
What are common misspellings of "semblance"?
Common misspellings include "esmblance", "sebmlance", "sembalnce", "sembblance", "semblacne". The correct spelling is "semblance".
How do you pronounce "semblance"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "semblance" is /ˈsɛmblən(t)s/. 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 "semblance"?
From Middle English semblaunce (“outward appearance, form; appearance without reality; condition or fact of being apparent; symbolic image; facial expression, countenance; conduct, manner; image, likeness; analogy, comparison”), from Anglo-Norman ... 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 "semblance", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 9 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

retaliate#25,552restarted#25,551purgatory#25,542pseudonym#25,540

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (15 here; floor ≥5).

supermodel15 variantspatchwork15 variantstranscend15 variantsunderlined15 variants

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list