spyglass

/ˈspaɪˌɡlæs/

//ˈspaɪˌɡlæs// noun

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

"spyglass" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“spyglass” is uncommon English (frequency #71,126 among 54,294 “S” headwords), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#71,126
frequency rank, English
54,294
“S” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A small portable telescope.

Key facts for spyglass
PropertyValue
Headwordspyglass
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈspaɪˌɡlæs/
Letters8
Frequency rank#71,126
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “spyglass” 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). spyglass 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

spyglass is uncommon English at frequency #71,126 among 54,294 “S” headwords, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈspaɪˌɡlæs/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 2 senses are on record.

No generated misspelling entries exist for spyglass in our index, since its letter pattern doesn't lend itself to common typo substitutions. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: From spy + glass. The correct English form is spyglass, spelled S-P-Y-G-L-A-S-S.

Definition

  1. 1
    A small portable telescope.
  2. 2
    A pair of binoculars.

Etymology

From spy + glass.

This word in other languages

catalejo(Español)longue-vue(Français)Fernglas(Deutsch)

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 "spyglass"?
"spyglass" is spelled S-P-Y-G-L-A-S-S. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈspaɪˌɡlæs/.
What does "spyglass" mean?
As a noun, "spyglass" means: A small portable telescope.
How do you pronounce "spyglass"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "spyglass" is /ˈspaɪˌɡlæs/. 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 "spyglass"?
From spy + glass. 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 “spyglass”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is S-P-Y-G-L-A-S-S - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈspaɪˌɡlæs/ (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