setback

/ˈsɛtbæk/

//ˈsɛtbæk// noun

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

"setback" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“setback” has 11 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #17,955. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#17,955
frequency rank, English
6,566
“S” headwords
11
tracked misspellings
1
confusable pair

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - An obstacle, delay, disadvantage, or blow (an adverse event which slows down, or prevents progress towards a desired outcome).

Corpus desk

Index EN-setback · setback · English

setback · rank #17,955 · 11 variants · 1 confusable

  • FREQ-MID #17,955
  • LEN-LONG 7 letters
  • VOW-2 2 vowels
  • CONFUS-LOW 1 pairs
  • VAR-MID 11 variants
  • BOOK-DENSE 6,566
  • PHOTO-FINISH shaming

Nearest frequency peer: shaming (+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 “setback”

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

corpus weight

What this shows “setback” 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

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

setback vs stack
71% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for setback
PropertyValue
Headwordsetback
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈsɛtbæk/
Letters7
Frequency rank#17,955
Misspellings tracked11
Confusable pairs1
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “setback”

This scale runs from the tiny cluster of words that carry ordinary speech (left) to the long tail of words almost nobody reaches for (right).setbacklands 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 “shaming” (#17,956), “scorpion” (#17,953), “scarcity” (#17,952). Among 6,566 “S” headwords, “setback” is #17,955. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 11 spelling variants around setback (IPA /ˈsɛtbæk/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #17,955 among 6,566 “S” headwords. Wiktionary lists 7 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 11 likely wrong-spelling variants for setback, with forms such as "estback", "sebtack", and "setabck". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 1 confusable-pair relationship, "stack", since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: Deverbal from set back. Compare drawback. The correct English form is setback, spelled S-E-T-B-A-C-K.

Definition

  1. 1
    An obstacle, delay, disadvantage, or blow (an adverse event which slows down, or prevents progress towards a desired outcome).
  2. 2
    Any adverse event, defeat, or impediment of progress.
  3. 3
    The required distance between a structure and a road.
  4. 4
    A step-like recession in a wall.
  5. 5
    An offset to the temperature setting of a thermostat to cover a period when more or less heating is required than usual.
  6. 6
    A backset; a countercurrent; an eddy.
  7. 7
    A backset; a check; a repulse; a relapse.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

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

  1. After some initial setbacks, the expedition went safely on its way.
  2. DUKAT: I blame no one but myself. I was indiscreet. I compromised myself and have been punished accordingly. If someone under my command had behaved so outrageously, I would do the same thing to him. Besides, I assure you, this is only a temporary setback. Everything I have lost, I will regain. It's only a matter of time.

Etymology

Deverbal from set back. Compare drawback.

This word in other languages

contratiempo(Español)contretemps(Français)Rückschlag(Deutsch)contrariedade(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • estback
  • sebtack
  • setabck
  • setbacck
  • setbackk
  • setbakc
  • setbback
  • setbcak
  • settback
  • ssetback
  • steback

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

estback2sebtack2setabck2setbacck1setbackk1setbakc2setbback1setbcak2
Edit distance from "setback"

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 "setback"?
"setback" is spelled S-E-T-B-A-C-K. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈsɛtbæk/.
What does "setback" mean?
As a noun, "setback" means: An obstacle, delay, disadvantage, or blow (an adverse event which slows down, or prevents progress towards a desired outcome).
What words are commonly confused with "setback"?
"setback" is commonly confused with "stack". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "setback"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "setback" is /ˈsɛtbæk/. 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 "setback"?
Deverbal from set back. Compare drawback. 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 "setback", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 7 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

shaming#17,956sizable#17,958spartan#17,962Rollins#17,944

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (11 here; floor ≥5).

slippers11 variantsspilling11 variantsStraits11 variantspigment11 variants

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list