trapdoor

/ˈtræpdɔː/

//ˈtræpdɔː// noun

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

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

The verdict

“trapdoor” is uncommon English (frequency #53,919 among 3,151 “T” headwords), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#53,919
frequency rank, English
3,151
“T” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - A hinged or sliding door set into a floor or ceiling.

Corpus desk

Index EN-trapdoor · trapdoor · English

trapdoor · rank #53,919 · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-RARE #53,919
  • LEN-LONG 8 letters
  • VOW-3 3 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-MID 3,151
  • PHOTO-FINISH Trajan

Nearest frequency peer: Trajan (-1 rank slots)

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.

Long-tail ranks near “trapdoor”

Sparse band: bars invert rank so rarer forms read shorter

corpus weight

What this shows Long-tail view: where “trapdoor” sits against similarly uncommon English ranks.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026
Key facts for trapdoor
PropertyValue
Headwordtrapdoor
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈtræpdɔː/
Letters8
Frequency rank#53,919
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “trapdoor” in English

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right).trapdoorfalls in this rarity band:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

The axis is logarithmic, with each marked tick roughly ten times rarer than the last. Rare peers in the same band: “Trajan” (#53,918), “tricolor” (#53,920), “touchpad” (#53,917). Among 3,151 “T” headwords, “trapdoor” is #53,919. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

trapdoor is uncommon English at frequency #53,919 among 3,151 “T” headwords, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈtræpdɔː/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 5 senses are on record.

Zero misspellings are on record for trapdoor in our index, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

Etymologically, the entry records: From trap + door. The correct English form is trapdoor, spelled T-R-A-P-D-O-O-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    A hinged or sliding door set into a floor or ceiling.
  2. 2
    Such a trap set into the floor of a stage to allow fast exits and entrances.
  3. 3
    A secret method of obtaining access to a program or online system; a backdoor.
  4. 4
    The special information that permits the inverse of a trapdoor function to be easily computed.
  5. 5
    A door in a level for regulating the ventilating current; a weather door.

Etymology

From trap + door.

Synonyms

drop

This word in other languages

trampa(Español)trappe(Français)Falltür(Deutsch)alçapão(Português)

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 "trapdoor"?
"trapdoor" is spelled T-R-A-P-D-O-O-R. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈtræpdɔː/.
What does "trapdoor" mean?
As a noun, "trapdoor" means: A hinged or sliding door set into a floor or ceiling.
How do you pronounce "trapdoor"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "trapdoor" is /ˈtræpdɔː/. 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 "trapdoor"?
From trap + door. 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.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "trapdoor", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 8 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

tricolor#53,920touchpad#53,917timbered#53,911Tahitian#53,900

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list