tippy

/ˈtɪpi/

//ˈtɪpi// adj

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

"tippy" is a 5-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“tippy” is an uncommon English word, ranked #53,914 in English word frequency and used as an adjective.

#53,914
frequency rank, English
5
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Fashionable, tip-top.

Key facts for tippy
PropertyValue
Headwordtippy
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˈtɪpi/
Letters5
Frequency rank#53,914
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “tippy” 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). tippy 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 tippy is 5 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈtɪpi/. Corpus data places it at rank #53,914 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our edit-distance generator produced no likely misspellings for tippy, since its letter pattern doesn't lend itself to common typo substitutions. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

Etymologically, the entry records: 1790, tip (“apex”) + -y (diminutive). Sense of “clever” may be influenced by tip (“inside information”). The correct English form is tippy, spelled T-I-P-P-Y.

Definition

  1. 1
    Fashionable, tip-top.
  2. 2
    Clever, neat, smart.
  3. 3
    Of tea, having a large amount of tips, or leaf buds.

Etymology

1790, tip (“apex”) + -y (diminutive). Sense of “clever” may be influenced by tip (“inside information”).

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 "tippy"?
"tippy" is spelled T-I-P-P-Y. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈtɪpi/.
What does "tippy" mean?
As an adjective, "tippy" means: Fashionable, tip-top.
How do you pronounce "tippy"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "tippy" is /ˈtɪpi/. 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 "tippy"?
1790, tip (“apex”) + -y (diminutive). Sense of “clever” may be influenced by tip (“inside information”). 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 “tippy”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is T-I-P-P-Y - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈtɪpi/ (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