spigot

/ˈspɪ.ɡət/

//ˈspɪ.ɡət// noun

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

The verdict

“spigot” is uncommon English (frequency #53,867 among 54,294 “S” headwords), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#53,867
frequency rank, English
54,294
“S” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A pin or peg used to stop the vent in a cask.

Key facts for spigot
PropertyValue
Headwordspigot
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈspɪ.ɡət/
Letters6
Frequency rank#53,867
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “spigot” 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). spigot lands here:

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

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

Rare enough to double-check

spigot is uncommon English at frequency #53,867 among 54,294 “S” headwords, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈspɪ.ɡət/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 3 senses are on record.

Zero misspellings are on record for spigot in our index, a sign its spelling follows regular English conventions. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English spigot (“wooden stopper”). Probably ultimately from Latin spīca via Old Occitan espiga and one or more dialects of Middle French [Term?]. The correct English form is spigot, spelled S-P-I-G-O-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    A pin or peg used to stop the vent in a cask.
  2. 2
    The plug of a faucet, tap or cock.
  3. 3
    A water tap: a faucet or sillcock.

Etymology

From Middle English spigot (“wooden stopper”). Probably ultimately from Latin spīca via Old Occitan espiga and one or more dialects of Middle French [Term?].

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); 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 "spigot"?
"spigot" is spelled S-P-I-G-O-T. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈspɪ.ɡət/.
What does "spigot" mean?
As a noun, "spigot" means: A pin or peg used to stop the vent in a cask.
How do you pronounce "spigot"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "spigot" is /ˈspɪ.ɡət/. 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 "spigot"?
From Middle English spigot (“wooden stopper”). Probably ultimately from Latin spīca via Old Occitan espiga and one or more dialects of Middle French [Term?]. 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 “spigot”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is S-P-I-G-O-T - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈspɪ.ɡət/ (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

Other uncommon English words near this rank

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