too bad

phrase

"too-bad" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“too bad” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a phrase. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
7
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - That's a pity.

Corpus desk

Index EN-too-bad · too bad · English

too bad · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
  • LEN-LONG 7 letters
  • VOW-3 3 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-THIN "T" thin
  • PHOTO-UNK Peer pending

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Key facts for too bad
PropertyValue
Headwordtoo bad
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechPhrase
Letters7
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “too bad” in English

too badsits beyond the 100,000 most-frequent English words, in the long tail of technical, archaic, or otherwise rare vocabulary where spelling doubt tends to strike hardest.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

too bad is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as aphrase. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 3 senses are on record.

too bad doesn't appear in our generated misspelling index, since its letter pattern doesn't lend itself to common typo substitutions. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, which typically means the spelling is too distinctive to be mistaken for another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: Shortening of "That is too bad" or "It is too bad that..." The correct English form is too bad, spelled T-O-O- -B-A-D.

Definition

  1. 1
    That's a pity.
  2. 2
    It is sad that.
  3. 3
    A mocking expression of uncaring or schadenfreude as an answer to someone when upset.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how too bad appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. You can't come to the party? Too bad.
  2. Foxtrot B I L LA MENDE IT'S TOO BAD " PAIGE " DOESN'T RHYME WITH " GODZILLA . ' There once was a girl named Paige ... who was frequently filled with rage ....One day she decided to be more peaceful and quiet ...Now no one ever says, Paige, act your age...

Etymology

Shortening of "That is too bad" or "It is too bad that..."

This word in other languages

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "too bad"?
"too bad" is spelled T-O-O- -B-A-D.
What does "too bad" mean?
As a phrase, "too bad" means: That's a pity.
What is the origin of the word "too bad"?
Shortening of "That is too bad" or "It is too bad that..." 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.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list