suspense

/səˈspɛns/

//səˈspɛns// noun

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

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

The verdict

“suspense” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #14,428 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#14,428
frequency rank, English
8
letters
12
tracked misspellings
2
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The condition of being suspended; cessation for a time.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

suspense vs suspend
75% similar
suspense vs suspended
78% similar

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

Key facts for suspense
PropertyValue
Headwordsuspense
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/səˈspɛns/
Letters8
Frequency rank#14,428
Misspellings tracked12
Confusable pairs2
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “suspense” 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). suspense 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 suspense is 8 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /səˈspɛns/. Corpus data places it at rank #14,428 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 5 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 suspense, with forms such as "ssupense", "ssuspense", and "supsense". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 2 confusable-pair relationships, "suspend", "suspended", since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English suspense, suspence, from Anglo-Norman suspens (as in en suspens) and Old French suspens, from Latin suspēnsus. The correct English form is suspense, spelled S-U-S-P-E-N-S-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    The condition of being suspended; cessation for a time.
  2. 2
    the pleasurable emotion of anticipation and excitement regarding the outcome or climax of a book, film etc.
  3. 3
    The unpleasant emotion of anxiety or apprehension in an uncertain situation.
  4. 4
    A temporary cessation of one's right; suspension, as when the rent or other profits of land cease by unity of possession of land and rent.
  5. 5
    A deadline.

Etymology

From Middle English suspense, suspence, from Anglo-Norman suspens (as in en suspens) and Old French suspens, from Latin suspēnsus.

This word in other languages

suspensión(Español)suspension(Français)Hängen(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ssupense,ssuspense,supsense,susepnse,suspenes,suspennse,suspensse,suspesne,suspnese,susppense,susspense,usspense

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of suspense - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

ssupense2ssuspense1supsense2susepnse2suspenes2suspennse1suspensse1suspesne2
Edit distance from "suspense"

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 "suspense"?
"suspense" is spelled S-U-S-P-E-N-S-E. The IPA pronunciation is /səˈspɛns/.
What does "suspense" mean?
As a noun, "suspense" means: The condition of being suspended; cessation for a time.
What words are commonly confused with "suspense"?
"suspense" is commonly confused with "suspend", "suspended". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "suspense"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "suspense" is /səˈspɛns/. 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 "suspense"?
From Middle English suspense, suspence, from Anglo-Norman suspens (as in en suspens) and Old French suspens, from Latin suspēnsus. 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 “suspense”

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

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