stricture

Name: stricture, English Word Data
Creator: Wiktionary
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

/ˈstɹɪkt͡ʃə/

//ˈstɹɪkt͡ʃə// noun

By PlainSpell Editorial Team · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) · analyzed May 6, 2026

The verdict

“stricture” is an uncommon English word, ranked #93,196 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#93,196
frequency rank, English: 9
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A rule restricting behaviour or action.

Key facts for stricture
Property	Value
Headword	stricture
Language	English
Part of speech	Noun
IPA	/ˈstɹɪkt͡ʃə/
Letters	9
Frequency rank	#93,196
Misspellings tracked	0
Confusable pairs	0
Source	Wiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “stricture” 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). stricture lands here:

#93,196

#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 stricture is 9 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈstɹɪkt͡ʃə/. Corpus data places it at rank #93,196 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 7 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

No generated misspelling entries exist for stricture in our index, since its letter sequence doesn't invite the usual edit-distance slips. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, a sign it's visually distinctive enough not to be mixed up with another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from Late Latin strictūra, from Latin strictus. The correct English form is stricture, spelled S-T-R-I-C-T-U-R-E.

Definition

1
A rule restricting behaviour or action.
2
A general state of restrictiveness on behavior, action, or ideology.
3
A sternly critical remark or review.
4
Abnormal narrowing of a canal or duct in the body.
5
Strictness.
6
A stroke; a glance; a touch.
7
The degree of contact, in consonants.

Etymology

Borrowed from Late Latin strictūra, from Latin strictus.

This word in other languages

estrechura(Español)étranglement(Français)

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 "stricture"?

"stricture" is spelled S-T-R-I-C-T-U-R-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈstɹɪkt͡ʃə/.

What does "stricture" mean?

As a noun, "stricture" means: A rule restricting behaviour or action.

How do you pronounce "stricture"?

The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "stricture" is /ˈstɹɪkt͡ʃə/. 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 "stricture"?

Borrowed from Late Latin strictūra, from Latin strictus. 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 “stricture”

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

The one correct English spelling is S-T-R-I-C-T-U-R-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
Say it as /ˈstɹɪkt͡ʃə/ (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.