stodgy

/ˈstɒ.d͡ʒi/

//ˈstɒ.d͡ʒi// adj

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

The verdict

“stodgy” is uncommon English (frequency #76,363 among 54,294 “S” headwords), classed as an adjective. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#76,363
frequency rank, English
54,294
“S” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Dull, old-fashioned.

Key facts for stodgy
PropertyValue
Headwordstodgy
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˈstɒ.d͡ʒi/
Letters6
Frequency rank#76,363
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “stodgy” 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). stodgy 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

stodgy is uncommon English at frequency #76,363 among 54,294 “S” headwords, classed as anadjective, transcribed /ˈstɒ.d͡ʒi/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 3 senses are on record.

No generated misspelling entries exist for stodgy in our index, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, which tends to mean the word is visually distinctive enough to stand on its own.

Etymologically, the entry records: Unknown, but possibly from stodge (“to stuff”), from stog, or a blend of stuffy + podgy. The correct English form is stodgy, spelled S-T-O-D-G-Y.

Definition

  1. 1
    Dull, old-fashioned.
  2. 2
    Having a thick, semi-solid consistency; glutinous; heavy on the stomach.
  3. 3
    Badly put together.

Etymology

Unknown, but possibly from stodge (“to stuff”), from stog, or a blend of stuffy + podgy.

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 "stodgy"?
"stodgy" is spelled S-T-O-D-G-Y. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈstɒ.d͡ʒi/.
What does "stodgy" mean?
As an adjective, "stodgy" means: Dull, old-fashioned.
How do you pronounce "stodgy"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "stodgy" is /ˈstɒ.d͡ʒi/. 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 "stodgy"?
Unknown, but possibly from stodge (“to stuff”), from stog, or a blend of stuffy + podgy. 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 “stodgy”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is S-T-O-D-G-Y - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈstɒ.d͡ʒi/ (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