synod

/ˈsɪn.əd/

//ˈsɪn.əd// noun

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

"synod" is a 5-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“synod” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #19,225 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#19,225
frequency rank, English
5
letters
8
tracked misspellings
13
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - An ecclesiastic council or meeting to consult on church matters.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

synod vs synth
60% similar
synod vs sod
60% similar
synod vs Syd
40% similar

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

Key facts for synod
PropertyValue
Headwordsynod
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈsɪn.əd/
Letters5
Frequency rank#19,225
Misspellings tracked8
Confusable pairs13
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “synod” 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). synod 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 synod is 5 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈsɪn.əd/. Corpus data places it at rank #19,225 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 8 likely wrong-spelling variants for synod, with forms such as "snyod", "ssynod", and "syndo". 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 13 confusable-pair relationships, "synth", "sod", "Syd", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Ancient Greek σύνοδος (súnodos, “assembly, meeting”) – from σύν (sún, “with”) (English syn-) + ὁδός (hodós, “way, path”). Compare also with the term סַנְהֶדְרִין (“sanhedrin”) common throughout Hebrew Talmudic literature. The correct English form is synod, spelled S-Y-N-O-D.

Definition

  1. 1
    An ecclesiastic council or meeting to consult on church matters.
  2. 2
    An administrative division of churches, either the entire denomination, as in the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, or a mid-level division (middle judicatory, district) as in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
  3. 3
    An assembly or council having civil authority (formal); a legislative body.
  4. 4
    A conjunction of two or more of the heavenly bodies.

Etymology

From Ancient Greek σύνοδος (súnodos, “assembly, meeting”) – from σύν (sún, “with”) (English syn-) + ὁδός (hodós, “way, path”). Compare also with the term סַנְהֶדְרִין (“sanhedrin”) common throughout Hebrew Talmudic literature.

This word in other languages

sínodo(Español)synode(Français)Synode(Deutsch)sínodo(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: snyod,ssynod,syndo,synnod,synodd,syond,syynod,ysnod

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of synod - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

snyod2ssynod1syndo2synnod1synodd1syond2syynod1ysnod2
Edit distance from "synod"

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 "synod"?
"synod" is spelled S-Y-N-O-D. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈsɪn.əd/.
What does "synod" mean?
As a noun, "synod" means: An ecclesiastic council or meeting to consult on church matters.
What words are commonly confused with "synod"?
"synod" is commonly confused with "synth", "sod", "Syd". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "synod"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "synod" is /ˈsɪn.əd/. 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 "synod"?
From Ancient Greek σύνοδος (súnodos, “assembly, meeting”) – from σύν (sún, “with”) (English syn-) + ὁδός (hodós, “way, path”). Compare also with the term סַנְהֶדְרִין (“sanhedrin”) common throughout Hebrew Talmudic literature. 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 “synod”

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

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