trajectory

Name: trajectory, English Word Data
Creator: Wiktionary
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

/tɹəˈd͡ʒɛktəɹi/

//tɹəˈd͡ʒɛktəɹi// noun

By PlainSpell · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) · analyzed May 6, 2026

The verdict

“trajectory” has 16 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #12,878. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#12,878
frequency rank, English: 27,828
“T” headwords: 16
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The path an object takes as it moves.

Key facts for trajectory
Property	Value
Headword	trajectory
Language	English
Part of speech	Noun
IPA	/tɹəˈd͡ʒɛktəɹi/
Letters	10
Frequency rank	#12,878
Misspellings tracked	16
Confusable pairs	0
Source	Wiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “trajectory” 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). trajectory lands here:

#12,878

#1#100#1K#10K#100K

← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 16 spelling variants around trajectory (IPA /tɹəˈd͡ʒɛktəɹi/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #12,878 among 27,828 “T” headwords. Wiktionary lists 4 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 16 likely wrong-spelling variants for trajectory, with forms such as "rtajectory", "tarjectory", and "traejctory". 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 no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

Etymologically, the entry records: From New Latin trāiectōria f (“trajectory”) (used by Newton), the feminine of trāiectōrius (“of or pertaining to throwing across”), from Latin trāiectus (“thrown over or across”), past participle of trāiciō, from trans- (“across, beyond”) (see trans-) + iac… The correct English form is trajectory, spelled T-R-A-J-E-C-T-O-R-Y.

Definition

1
The path an object takes as it moves.
2
The path of a body as it travels through space.
3
The ordered set of intermediate states assumed by a dynamical system as a result of time evolution.
4
A course of development, such as that of a war or career.

Etymology

From New Latin trāiectōria f (“trajectory”) (used by Newton), the feminine of trāiectōrius (“of or pertaining to throwing across”), from Latin trāiectus (“thrown over or across”), past participle of trāiciō, from trans- (“across, beyond”) (see trans-) + iaciō (“to throw”) (from Proto-Indo-European *(H)yeh₁- (“to throw, impel”)). Middle French and Middle English had trajectorie (“end of a funnel”), from Latin trāiectōrium.

This word in other languages

trayectoria(Español)trajectoire(Français)Flugbahn(Deutsch)trajetória(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: rtajectory,tarjectory,traejctory,trajcetory,trajecctory,trajecotry,trajectorry,trajectoryy,trajectoyr,trajectroy,trajecttory,trajetcory,trajjectory,trjaectory,trrajectory,ttrajectory

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of trajectory - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

Edit distance from "trajectory"

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 "trajectory"?

"trajectory" is spelled T-R-A-J-E-C-T-O-R-Y. The IPA pronunciation is /tɹəˈd͡ʒɛktəɹi/.

What does "trajectory" mean?

As a noun, "trajectory" means: The path an object takes as it moves.

What are common misspellings of "trajectory"?

Common misspellings include "rtajectory", "tarjectory", "traejctory", "trajcetory", "trajecctory". The correct spelling is "trajectory".

How do you pronounce "trajectory"?

The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "trajectory" is /tɹəˈd͡ʒɛktəɹi/. 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 "trajectory"?

From New Latin trāiectōria f (“trajectory”) (used by Newton), the feminine of trāiectōrius (“of or pertaining to throwing across”), from Latin trāiectus (“thrown over or across”), past participle of trāiciō, from trans- (“across, beyond”) (see tra... 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 “trajectory”

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

The one correct English spelling is T-R-A-J-E-C-T-O-R-Y - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
Say it as /tɹəˈd͡ʒɛktəɹi/ (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

Same frequency band

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.