tincture

/ˈtɪŋ(k)tʃə/

//ˈtɪŋ(k)tʃə// noun

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

"tincture" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“tincture” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #43,419 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#43,419
frequency rank, English
8
letters
12
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Senses relating to colour, and to dipping something into a liquid.

Key facts for tincture
PropertyValue
Headwordtincture
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈtɪŋ(k)tʃə/
Letters8
Frequency rank#43,419
Misspellings tracked12
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “tincture” 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). tincture 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 tincture is 8 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈtɪŋ(k)tʃə/. Corpus data places it at rank #43,419 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 13 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 tincture, with forms such as "itncture", "ticnture", and "tinccture". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. Our dataset records no confusable match here, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: The noun is derived from Late Middle English tincture (“a dye, pigment; a colour, hue, tint; process of colouring or dyeing; medicinal ointment or salve (perhaps one discolouring the skin); use of a medicinal tincture; (alchemy) transmutation of base metals… The correct English form is tincture, spelled T-I-N-C-T-U-R-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    Senses relating to colour, and to dipping something into a liquid.
  2. 2
    Senses relating to colour, and to dipping something into a liquid.
  3. 3
    Senses relating to colour, and to dipping something into a liquid.
  4. 4
    Senses relating to colour, and to dipping something into a liquid.
  5. 5
    Senses relating to colour, and to dipping something into a liquid.
  6. 6
    Senses relating to colour, and to dipping something into a liquid.
  7. 7
    Senses relating to colour, and to dipping something into a liquid.
  8. 8
    Senses relating to colour, and to dipping something into a liquid.
  9. 9
    Scientific and alchemical senses.
  10. 10
    Scientific and alchemical senses.
  11. 11
    Scientific and alchemical senses.
  12. 12
    Scientific and alchemical senses.
  13. 13
    Scientific and alchemical senses.

Etymology

The noun is derived from Late Middle English tincture (“a dye, pigment; a colour, hue, tint; process of colouring or dyeing; medicinal ointment or salve (perhaps one discolouring the skin); use of a medicinal tincture; (alchemy) transmutation of base metals into gold; ability to cause such transmutation; substance supposed to cause such transmutation”) [and other forms], borrowed from Latin tīnctūra (“act of dyeing”) + Middle English -ure (suffix indicating an action or a process and the means or result of that action or process). Tīnctūra is derived from tīnctus (“coloured, tinged; dipped in; impregnated with; treated”) + -tūra (suffix forming action nouns expressing activities or results); while tīnctus is the perfect passive participle of tingō (“to colour, dye, tinge; to dip (in), immerse; to impregnate (with); to moisten, wet; to smear”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *teng- (“to dip; to soak”). Doublet of tainture, teinture, and tinctura. The verb is derived from the noun.

This word in other languages

tintura(Español)couleur(Français)Tinktur(Deutsch)cor(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: itncture,ticnture,tinccture,tinctrue,tinctture,tinctuer,tincturre,tincutre,tinncture,tintcure,tnicture,ttincture

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

itncture2ticnture2tinccture1tinctrue2tinctture1tinctuer2tincturre1tincutre2
Edit distance from "tincture"

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 "tincture"?
"tincture" is spelled T-I-N-C-T-U-R-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈtɪŋ(k)tʃə/.
What does "tincture" mean?
As a noun, "tincture" means: Senses relating to colour, and to dipping something into a liquid.
What are common misspellings of "tincture"?
Common misspellings include "itncture", "ticnture", "tinccture", "tinctrue", "tinctture". The correct spelling is "tincture".
How do you pronounce "tincture"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "tincture" is /ˈtɪŋ(k)tʃə/. 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 "tincture"?
The noun is derived from Late Middle English tincture (“a dye, pigment; a colour, hue, tint; process of colouring or dyeing; medicinal ointment or salve (perhaps one discolouring the skin); use of a medicinal tincture; (alchemy) transmutation of b... 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 “tincture”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is T-I-N-C-T-U-R-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈtɪŋ(k)tʃə/ (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