sordid

/ˈsɔː.dɪd/

//ˈsɔː.dɪd// adj

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

"sordid" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“sordid” has 9 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #29,472. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#29,472
frequency rank, English
54,294
“S” headwords
9
tracked misspellings
3
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Distasteful, ignoble, vile, or contemptible.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

sordid vs sorted
67% similar
sordid vs sortie
67% similar
sordid vs solid
67% similar

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

Key facts for sordid
PropertyValue
Headwordsordid
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˈsɔː.dɪd/
Letters6
Frequency rank#29,472
Misspellings tracked9
Confusable pairs3
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “sordid” 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). sordid lands here:

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

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 9 spelling variants around sordid (IPA /ˈsɔː.dɪd/), anadjective. Corpus frequency is #29,472 among 54,294 “S” headwords. Wiktionary lists 5 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 9 likely wrong-spelling variants for sordid, with forms such as "osrdid", "sodrid", and "sorddi". 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 3 confusable-pair relationships, "sorted", "sortie", "solid", since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English sordide, from Latin sordidus. Alternatively from French sordide. The correct English form is sordid, spelled S-O-R-D-I-D.

Definition

  1. 1
    Distasteful, ignoble, vile, or contemptible.
  2. 2
    Dirty or squalid.
  3. 3
    Morally degrading.
  4. 4
    Grasping; stingy; avaricious.
  5. 5
    Of a dull colour.

Etymology

From Middle English sordide, from Latin sordidus. Alternatively from French sordide.

Synonyms

unclean

This word in other languages

sórdido(Español)sordide(Français)dreckig(Deutsch)sórdido(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • osrdid
  • sodrid
  • sorddi
  • sorddid
  • sordidd
  • soridd
  • sorrdid
  • srodid
  • ssordid

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

osrdid2sodrid2sorddi2sorddid1sordidd1soridd2sorrdid1srodid2
Edit distance from "sordid"

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 "sordid"?
"sordid" is spelled S-O-R-D-I-D. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈsɔː.dɪd/.
What does "sordid" mean?
As an adjective, "sordid" means: Distasteful, ignoble, vile, or contemptible.
What words are commonly confused with "sordid"?
"sordid" is commonly confused with "sorted", "sortie", "solid". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "sordid"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "sordid" is /ˈsɔː.dɪd/. 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 "sordid"?
From Middle English sordide, from Latin sordidus. Alternatively from French sordide. 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 “sordid”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is S-O-R-D-I-D - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈsɔː.dɪd/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “sorted” - see the side-by-side comparison. sordid vs sorted
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Same frequency band

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