squib

/skwɪb/

//skwɪb// noun

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

"squib" is a 5-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“squib” is uncommon English (frequency #67,856 among 6,566 “S” headwords), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#67,856
frequency rank, English
6,566
“S” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - A small firework that is intended to spew sparks rather than explode.

Corpus desk

Index EN-squib · squib · English

squib · rank #67,856 · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-RARE #67,856
  • LEN-MID 5 letters
  • VOW-2 2 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-DENSE 6,566
  • PHOTO-FINISH Squamish

Nearest frequency peer: Squamish (-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.

Long-tail ranks near “squib”

Sparse band: bars invert rank so rarer forms read shorter

corpus weight

What this shows Long-tail view: where “squib” sits against similarly uncommon English ranks.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026
Key facts for squib
PropertyValue
Headwordsquib
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/skwɪb/
Letters5
Frequency rank#67,856
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “squib” in English

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).squibfalls in this rarity band:

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

The axis is logarithmic, with each marked tick roughly ten times rarer than the last. Rare peers in the same band: “Squamish” (#67,855), “starrer” (#67,857), “spouted” (#67,854). Among 6,566 “S” headwords, “squib” is #67,856. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

squib is uncommon English at frequency #67,856 among 6,566 “S” headwords, classed as anoun, transcribed /skwɪb/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 14 senses are on record.

No generated misspelling entries exist for squib in our index, suggesting the orthography follows predictable English patterns. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, which typically means the spelling is too distinctive to be mistaken for another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: Possibly imitative of a small explosion. The correct English form is squib, spelled S-Q-U-I-B.

Definition

  1. 1
    A small firework that is intended to spew sparks rather than explode.
  2. 2
    A similar device used to ignite an explosive or launch a rocket, etc.
  3. 3
    A kind of slow match or safety fuse.
  4. 4
    Any small firecracker sold to the general public, usually in special clusters designed to explode in series after a single master fuse is lit.
  5. 5
    A malfunction in which the fired projectile does not have enough force behind it to exit the barrel, and thus becomes stuck.
  6. 6
    The heating element used to set off the sodium azide pellets in a vehicle's airbag.
  7. 7
    In special effects, a small explosive used to replicate a bullet hitting a surface or a gunshot wound on an actor.
  8. 8
    A short piece of witty writing; a lampoon.
  9. 9
    A writer of lampoons.
  10. 10
    In a legal casebook, a short summary of a legal action placed between more extensively quoted cases.
  11. 11
    A short article, often published in journals, that introduces theoretically problematic empirical data or discusses an overlooked theoretical problem. In contrast to a typical article, a squib need not answer the questions that it poses.
  12. 12
    An unimportant, paltry, or mean-spirited person.
  13. 13
    A sketched concept or visual solution, usually very quick and not too detailed.
  14. 14
    A coward or wimp.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

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

  1. English Navy squibs set fire to two dozen enemy ships in a Dutch harbor during the 16th-century battle against the Spanish Armada.
  2. The making and selling of fireworks and squibs, or throwing them about on any street, is […] punishable by fine.

Etymology

Possibly imitative of a small explosion.

This word in other languages

notule(Français)Knallfrosch(Deutsch)pílula(Português)

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 "squib"?
"squib" is spelled S-Q-U-I-B. The IPA pronunciation is /skwɪb/.
What does "squib" mean?
As a noun, "squib" means: A small firework that is intended to spew sparks rather than explode.
How do you pronounce "squib"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "squib" is /skwɪb/. 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 "squib"?
Possibly imitative of a small explosion. 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 "squib", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 5 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

Sklar#67,836Shula#67,832tapir#67,882scull#67,816

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list