# tarmac

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈtɑː(ɹ)mæk/ · frequency rank #27,675

## Definitions
1. Tarmacadam.
2. Any bituminous road surfacing material.
3. The driveable surface of a road.
4. The area of an airport, other than the runway, where planes park or maneuver.

## Etymology
Clipping of tarmacadam, which is from tar + macadam (“crushed stones”). Originally a trademark owned by its inventor, Edgar Hooley.

## Easily confused with
- **Tarzan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tarmac-vs-tarzan)
- **tartan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tarmac-vs-tartan)
- **tartar** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tarmac-vs-tartar)
- **Tasman** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tarmac-vs-tasman)
- **Tara** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tara-vs-tarmac)
- **tama** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tama-vs-tarmac)
- **Tamar** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tamar-vs-tarmac)

## Common misspellings (9)
`atrmac`, `tamrac`, `taramc`, `tarmacc`, `tarmca`, `tarmmac`, `tarrmac`, `tramac`, `ttarmac`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/tarmac