sound bite

/ˈsaʊndbaɪt/

//ˈsaʊndbaɪt// noun

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

The verdict

“sound bite” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a noun - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
10
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - An extract from a speech or interview used as edited into a news or other broadcast; an interview clip, especially seen as particularly expressive or pithy.

Key facts for sound bite
PropertyValue
Headwordsound bite
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈsaʊndbaɪt/
Letters10
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “sound bite” sits in English frequency

sound bite falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for sound bite is 10 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈsaʊndbaɪt/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Zero misspellings are on record for sound bite in our index, since its letter pattern doesn't lend itself to common typo substitutions. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

This entry carries no recorded etymology, so its spelling pattern is best understood through pronunciation rather than a traceable origin. The correct English form is sound bite, spelled S-O-U-N-D- -B-I-T-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    An extract from a speech or interview used as edited into a news or other broadcast; an interview clip, especially seen as particularly expressive or pithy.
  2. 2
    A one-liner deliberately produced for this purpose; a statement specifically intended to be punchy and memorable.
  3. 3
    Synonym of sound clip.

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

How do you spell "sound bite"?
"sound bite" is spelled S-O-U-N-D- -B-I-T-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈsaʊndbaɪt/.
What does "sound bite" mean?
As a noun, "sound bite" means: An extract from a speech or interview used as edited into a news or other broadcast; an interview clip, especially seen as particularly expressive or pithy.
How do you pronounce "sound bite"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "sound bite" is /ˈsaʊndbaɪt/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "sound bite" come from?
"sound bite" is a English word. PlainSpell covers definitions, pronunciations, and spelling data across English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German.
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 “sound bite”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is S-O-U-N-D- -B-I-T-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈsaʊndbaɪt/ (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.

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list