strainer

/ˈstɹeɪnɚ/

//ˈstɹeɪnɚ// noun

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

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

The verdict

“strainer” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #45,103 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#45,103
frequency rank, English
8
letters
12
tracked misspellings
7
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A device through which a liquid is passed for purification, filtering or separation from solid matter; anything (including a screen or a cloth) used to strain a liquid.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

strainer vs striker
75% similar
strainer vs stranger
75% similar
strainer vs stringer
75% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for strainer
PropertyValue
Headwordstrainer
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈstɹeɪnɚ/
Letters8
Frequency rank#45,103
Misspellings tracked12
Confusable pairs7
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “strainer” 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). strainer lands here:

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

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for strainer is 8 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈstɹeɪnɚ/. Corpus data places it at rank #45,103 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 4 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 12 likely wrong-spelling variants for strainer, with forms such as "srtainer", "sstrainer", and "stariner". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 7 confusable-pair relationships, "striker", "stranger", "stringer", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English strener, streynour, strenyour, equivalent to strain + -er. The correct English form is strainer, spelled S-T-R-A-I-N-E-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    A device through which a liquid is passed for purification, filtering or separation from solid matter; anything (including a screen or a cloth) used to strain a liquid.
  2. 2
    A perforated screen or openwork (usually at the end of a suction pipe of a pump), used to prevent solid bodies from mixing in a liquid stream or flowline.
  3. 3
    Debris in water that blocks the passage of solid objects.
  4. 4
    One who strains.

Etymology

From Middle English strener, streynour, strenyour, equivalent to strain + -er.

Synonyms

sievesiletemse

This word in other languages

colador(Español)filtre(Français)Sieb(Deutsch)peneira(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: srtainer,sstrainer,stariner,straienr,strainerr,strainner,strainre,stranier,strianer,strrainer,sttrainer,tsrainer

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of strainer - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

srtainer2sstrainer1stariner2straienr2strainerr1strainner1strainre2stranier2
Edit distance from "strainer"

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 "strainer"?
"strainer" is spelled S-T-R-A-I-N-E-R. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈstɹeɪnɚ/.
What does "strainer" mean?
As a noun, "strainer" means: A device through which a liquid is passed for purification, filtering or separation from solid matter; anything (including a screen or a cloth) used to strain a liquid.
What words are commonly confused with "strainer"?
"strainer" is commonly confused with "striker", "stranger", "stringer". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "strainer"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "strainer" is /ˈstɹeɪnɚ/. 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 "strainer"?
From Middle English strener, streynour, strenyour, equivalent to strain + -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 “strainer”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is S-T-R-A-I-N-E-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈstɹeɪnɚ/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “striker” - see the side-by-side comparison. strainer vs striker
  • 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.

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list