transform

/tɹænsˈfɔːm/

//tɹænsˈfɔːm// verb

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

"transform" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“transform” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #6,751 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#6,751
frequency rank, English
9
letters
15
tracked misspellings
4
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To change greatly the appearance or form of.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

transform vs transport
78% similar
transform vs transformed
82% similar
transform vs transformer
82% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for transform
PropertyValue
Headwordtransform
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/tɹænsˈfɔːm/
Letters9
Frequency rank#6,751
Misspellings tracked15
Confusable pairs4
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “transform” 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). transform 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 transform is 9 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /tɹænsˈfɔːm/. Corpus data places it at rank #6,751 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 6 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 15 likely wrong-spelling variants for transform, with forms such as "rtansform", "tarnsform", and "tranfsorm". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. It also participates in 4 confusable-pair relationships, "transport", "transformed", "transformer", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English transformen, from Old French transformer, from Latin transformo, transformare, from trans (“across”, preposition) + forma (“form”). The correct English form is transform, spelled T-R-A-N-S-F-O-R-M.

Definition

  1. 1
    To change greatly the appearance or form of.
  2. 2
    To change the nature, condition or function of; to change in nature, disposition, heart, character, etc.; to convert.
  3. 3
    To subject to a transformation; to change into another form without altering the value.
  4. 4
    To subject to the action of a transformer.
  5. 5
    To subject (a cell) to transformation.
  6. 6
    To undergo a transformation; to change in appearance or character.

Etymology

From Middle English transformen, from Old French transformer, from Latin transformo, transformare, from trans (“across”, preposition) + forma (“form”).

This word in other languages

trasformar(Español)transformer(Français)verwandeln(Deutsch)transformar(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: rtansform,tarnsform,tranfsorm,trannsform,transfform,transfomr,transformm,transforrm,transfrom,transofrm,transsform,trasnform,trnasform,trransform,ttransform

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of transform - 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.

rtansform2tarnsform2tranfsorm2trannsform1transfform1transfomr2transformm1transforrm1
Edit distance from "transform"

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 "transform"?
"transform" is spelled T-R-A-N-S-F-O-R-M. The IPA pronunciation is /tɹænsˈfɔːm/.
What does "transform" mean?
As a verb, "transform" means: To change greatly the appearance or form of.
What words are commonly confused with "transform"?
"transform" is commonly confused with "transport", "transformed", "transformer". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "transform"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "transform" is /tɹænsˈfɔːm/. 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 "transform"?
From Middle English transformen, from Old French transformer, from Latin transformo, transformare, from trans (“across”, preposition) + forma (“form”). 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 “transform”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is T-R-A-N-S-F-O-R-M - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /tɹænsˈfɔːm/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “transport” - see the side-by-side comparison. transform vs transport
  • 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