straightener

/ˈstɹeɪt(ə)nə/

//ˈstɹeɪt(ə)nə// noun

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

"straightener" is a 12-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“straightener” is uncommon English (frequency #69,469 among 54,294 “S” headwords), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#69,469
frequency rank, English
54,294
“S” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A pair of metal tongs with heated ceramic plates used for straightening hair.

Key facts for straightener
PropertyValue
Headwordstraightener
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈstɹeɪt(ə)nə/
Letters12
Frequency rank#69,469
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “straightener” 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). straightener 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

straightener is uncommon English at frequency #69,469 among 54,294 “S” headwords, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈstɹeɪt(ə)nə/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 4 senses are on record.

Zero misspellings are on record for straightener in our index, and the word's spelling is regular enough that our generator found nothing worth flagging. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: From straighten + -er. The correct English form is straightener, spelled S-T-R-A-I-G-H-T-E-N-E-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    A pair of metal tongs with heated ceramic plates used for straightening hair.
  2. 2
    Anyone or anything which straightens.
  3. 3
    A prearranged fight to settle a dispute.
  4. 4
    A bribe.

Etymology

From straighten + -er.

This word in other languages

fer à lisser(Français)Glätteisen(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 "straightener"?
"straightener" is spelled S-T-R-A-I-G-H-T-E-N-E-R. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈstɹeɪt(ə)nə/.
What does "straightener" mean?
As a noun, "straightener" means: A pair of metal tongs with heated ceramic plates used for straightening hair.
How do you pronounce "straightener"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "straightener" is /ˈstɹeɪt(ə)nə/. 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 "straightener"?
From straighten + -er. 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 “straightener”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is S-T-R-A-I-G-H-T-E-N-E-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈstɹeɪt(ə)nə/ (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