technique

/tɛkˈniːk/

//tɛkˈniːk// noun

"technique" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“technique” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #3,199 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#3,199
frequency rank, English
9
letters
13
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The practical aspects of a given art, occupation etc.; formal requirements.

Key facts for technique
PropertyValue
Headwordtechnique
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/tɛkˈniːk/
Letters9
Frequency rank#3,199
Misspellings tracked13
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “technique” 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). technique 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 technique is 9 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /tɛkˈniːk/. Corpus data places it at rank #3,199 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 13 likely wrong-spelling variants for technique, with forms such as "etchnique", "tcehnique", and "tecchnique". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from French technique (“technicality; branch of knowledge”), noun use of technique (“technical”), from Ancient Greek τεχνικός (tekhnikós, “of or pertaining to art, artistic, skilful”), from τέχνη (tékhnē, “art, handicraft”). Doublet of technic. The correct English form is technique, spelled T-E-C-H-N-I-Q-U-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    The practical aspects of a given art, occupation etc.; formal requirements.
  2. 2
    Practical ability in some given field or practice, often as opposed to creativity or imaginative skill.
  3. 3
    A method of achieving something or carrying something out, especially one requiring some skill or knowledge.

Etymology

Borrowed from French technique (“technicality; branch of knowledge”), noun use of technique (“technical”), from Ancient Greek τεχνικός (tekhnikós, “of or pertaining to art, artistic, skilful”), from τέχνη (tékhnē, “art, handicraft”). Doublet of technic.

Synonyms

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: etchnique,tcehnique,tecchnique,techhnique,techinque,techniqeu,techniqque,techniuqe,technnique,technqiue,tecnhique,tehcnique,ttechnique

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of technique - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

etchnique2tcehnique2tecchnique1techhnique1techinque2techniqeu2techniqque1techniuqe2
Edit distance from "technique"

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 "technique"?
"technique" is spelled T-E-C-H-N-I-Q-U-E. The IPA pronunciation is /tɛkˈniːk/.
What does "technique" mean?
As a noun, "technique" means: The practical aspects of a given art, occupation etc.; formal requirements.
What are common misspellings of "technique"?
Common misspellings include "etchnique", "tcehnique", "tecchnique", "techhnique", "techinque". The correct spelling is "technique".
How do you pronounce "technique"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "technique" is /tɛkˈniːk/. 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 "technique"?
Borrowed from French technique (“technicality; branch of knowledge”), noun use of technique (“technical”), from Ancient Greek τεχνικός (tekhnikós, “of or pertaining to art, artistic, skilful”), from τέχνη (tékhnē, “art, handicraft”). Doublet of te... 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 “technique”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is T-E-C-H-N-I-Q-U-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /tɛkˈniːk/ (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