template
/ˈtɛm.plɪt/
"template" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“template” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #11,132 in English word frequency and used as a noun.
- #11,132
- frequency rank, English
- 8
- letters
- 12
- tracked misspellings
- 3
- confusable pairs
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A physical object whose shape is used as a guide to make other objects.
Visual similarity to commonly confused words
How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).
Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | template |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Noun |
| IPA | /ˈtɛm.plɪt/ |
| Letters | 8 |
| Frequency rank | #11,132 |
| Misspellings tracked | 12 |
| Confusable pairs | 3 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “template” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for template is 8 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈtɛm.plɪt/. Corpus data places it at rank #11,132 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 7 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 template, with forms such as "etmplate", "temlpate", and "temmplate". 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 3 confusable-pair relationships, "temple", "templar", "temperate", a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.
Etymologically, the entry records: Alteration of templet, probably from French templet, diminutive of temple (“a weaver's stretcher”), variant of tempe, from Latin tempora (“temple”). Alteration of second syllable due to analogy with plate. Cognate with Faroese tamba (“to stretch out, relax”… The correct English form is template, spelled T-E-M-P-L-A-T-E.
Definition
- 1A physical object whose shape is used as a guide to make other objects.
- 2A generic model or pattern from which other objects are based or derived.
- 3A file or document serving as a basis for others.
- 4A macromolecule which provides a pattern for the synthesis of another molecule.
- 5A partially defined class or function, that can be instantiated in a variety of ways depending on the instantiation arguments.
- 6A strip of metal used in boiler-making, pierced with a series of holes, and serving as a guide in marking out a line of rivet-holes.
- 7Synonym of temple.
Etymology
Alteration of templet, probably from French templet, diminutive of temple (“a weaver's stretcher”), variant of tempe, from Latin tempora (“temple”). Alteration of second syllable due to analogy with plate. Cognate with Faroese tamba (“to stretch out, relax”), Icelandic þamb (“a stretched, bloated, or extended belly”).
This word in other languages
Common misspellings
Also misspelled as: etmplate,temlpate,temmplate,tempalte,templaet,templatte,templlate,templtae,tempplate,tepmlate,tmeplate,ttemplate
Misspelling Pattern Breakdown
How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of template - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.
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
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Using “template”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is T-E-M-P-L-A-T-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /ˈtɛm.plɪt/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
- Don't mix it up with “temple” - see the side-by-side comparison. template vs temple
- 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.