semi-automatic
"semi-automatic" is a 13-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“semi-automatic” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as an adjective. The kind of spelling people second-guess.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 14
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Partially automatic.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | semi-automatic |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Adjective |
| Letters | 14 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “semi-automatic” sits in English frequency
Rare enough to double-check
semi-automatic is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as anadjective. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 2 senses are on record.
We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for semi-automatic, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. 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 semi- + automatic. The correct English form is semi-automatic, spelled S-E-M-I---A-U-T-O-M-A-T-I-C.
Definition
- 1Partially automatic.
- 2Of a firearm that automatically ejects a shell and loads the next one, but requires the trigger to be squeezed for each shot; autoloading.
Etymology
From semi- + automatic.
This word in other languages
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Using “semi-automatic”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is S-E-M-I---A-U-T-O-M-A-T-I-C - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- 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.