stadtholder
/ˈstadˌhəʊldə/
"stadtholder" is a 11-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“stadtholder” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 11
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The chief magistrate, then later, hereditary chief of state of the Dutch Republic.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | stadtholder |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Noun |
| IPA | /ˈstadˌhəʊldə/ |
| Letters | 11 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “stadtholder” sits in English frequency
Rare enough to double-check
stadtholder is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈstadˌhəʊldə/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 2 senses are on record.
We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for stadtholder, a straightforward case of a spelling with little room for common typos. 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: Adapted from Dutch stadhouder (literally “city holder”) (obsolete spelling: stadthouder), calqued from Medieval Latin locum tenēns. The correct English form is stadtholder, spelled S-T-A-D-T-H-O-L-D-E-R.
Definition
- 1The chief magistrate, then later, hereditary chief of state of the Dutch Republic.
- 2An office formerly held by Danish and Swedish officials, best translated as governor-general.
Etymology
Adapted from Dutch stadhouder (literally “city holder”) (obsolete spelling: stadthouder), calqued from Medieval Latin locum tenēns.
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
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Using “stadtholder”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is S-T-A-D-T-H-O-L-D-E-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /ˈstadˌhəʊldə/ (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.