suppository

/səˈpɒzɪtəɹi/

//səˈpɒzɪtəɹi// noun

"suppository" is a 11-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“suppository” is an uncommon English word, ranked #69,480 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#69,480
frequency rank, English
11
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A medicine in the form of a small plug that is inserted into a bodily cavity, especially the rectum, vagina or urethra, where it melts at body temperature.

Key facts for suppository
PropertyValue
Headwordsuppository
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/səˈpɒzɪtəɹi/
Letters11
Frequency rank#69,480
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “suppository” 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). suppository 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 suppository is 11 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /səˈpɒzɪtəɹi/. Corpus data places it at rank #69,480 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. The dominant gloss from Wiktionary reads: "A medicine in the form of a small plug that is inserted into a bodily cavity, especially the rectum, vagina or urethra, where it melts at body temperature.".

Our edit-distance generator produced no likely misspellings for suppository, suggesting the orthography follows predictable English patterns. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English suppositorie, from Anglo-Norman, from Medieval Latin suppositōrium, from Late Latin, neuter of suppositōrius (“placed beneath”), from Latin suppōnō (“to put under”). The correct English form is suppository, spelled S-U-P-P-O-S-I-T-O-R-Y.

Definition

  1. 1
    A medicine in the form of a small plug that is inserted into a bodily cavity, especially the rectum, vagina or urethra, where it melts at body temperature.

Etymology

From Middle English suppositorie, from Anglo-Norman, from Medieval Latin suppositōrium, from Late Latin, neuter of suppositōrius (“placed beneath”), from Latin suppōnō (“to put under”).

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 "suppository"?
"suppository" is spelled S-U-P-P-O-S-I-T-O-R-Y. The IPA pronunciation is /səˈpɒzɪtəɹi/.
What does "suppository" mean?
As a noun, "suppository" means: A medicine in the form of a small plug that is inserted into a bodily cavity, especially the rectum, vagina or urethra, where it melts at body temperature.
How do you pronounce "suppository"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "suppository" is /səˈpɒzɪtəɹi/. 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 "suppository"?
From Middle English suppositorie, from Anglo-Norman, from Medieval Latin suppositōrium, from Late Latin, neuter of suppositōrius (“placed beneath”), from Latin suppōnō (“to put under”). 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 “suppository”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is S-U-P-P-O-S-I-T-O-R-Y - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /səˈpɒzɪtəɹi/ (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.

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

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