synthesizer

/ˈsɪn.θəˌsaɪ.zə(ɹ)/

//ˈsɪn.θəˌsaɪ.zə(ɹ)// noun

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

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

The verdict

“synthesizer” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #36,774 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#36,774
frequency rank, English
11
letters
18
tracked misspellings
1
confusable pair

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - An electronic musical instrument that creates its sounds with electronics and generally is played via a keyboard.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

synthesizer vs synthesize
91% similar

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

Key facts for synthesizer
PropertyValue
Headwordsynthesizer
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈsɪn.θəˌsaɪ.zə(ɹ)/
Letters11
Frequency rank#36,774
Misspellings tracked18
Confusable pairs1
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “synthesizer” 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). synthesizer 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 synthesizer is 11 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈsɪn.θəˌsaɪ.zə(ɹ)/. Corpus data places it at rank #36,774 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 18 likely wrong-spelling variants for synthesizer, with forms such as "snythesizer", "ssynthesizer", and "synhtesizer". 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 1 confusable-pair relationship, "synthesize", a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: From synthesize + -er. The correct English form is synthesizer, spelled S-Y-N-T-H-E-S-I-Z-E-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    An electronic musical instrument that creates its sounds with electronics and generally is played via a keyboard.
  2. 2
    An electronic instrument consisting of a module, or a set of modules, that creates its sounds with electronics and does not have any keyboard.
  3. 3
    An electronic circuit that generates an electronic signal oscillation with accurate timing from a reference oscillator.
  4. 4
    An electronic device that generates electronic signal patterns to test an electronic circuit.
  5. 5
    A software program that allows a computer to be used as a musical instrument – virtual instrument

Etymology

From synthesize + -er.

This word in other languages

synthétiseur(Français)Synthesizer(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: snythesizer,ssynthesizer,synhtesizer,synnthesizer,syntehsizer,syntheiszer,synthesiezr,synthesizerr,synthesizre,synthesizzer,synthessizer,syntheszier,synthhesizer,synthseizer,syntthesizer,sytnhesizer,syynthesizer,ysnthesizer

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of synthesizer - 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.

snythesizer2ssynthesizer1synhtesizer2synnthesizer1syntehsizer2syntheiszer2synthesiezr2synthesizerr1
Edit distance from "synthesizer"

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 "synthesizer"?
"synthesizer" is spelled S-Y-N-T-H-E-S-I-Z-E-R. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈsɪn.θəˌsaɪ.zə(ɹ)/.
What does "synthesizer" mean?
As a noun, "synthesizer" means: An electronic musical instrument that creates its sounds with electronics and generally is played via a keyboard.
What words are commonly confused with "synthesizer"?
"synthesizer" is commonly confused with "synthesize". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "synthesizer"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "synthesizer" is /ˈsɪn.θəˌsaɪ.zə(ɹ)/. 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 "synthesizer"?
From synthesize + -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 “synthesizer”

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

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