turnpike

/ˈtɜː(ɹ)npaɪk/

//ˈtɜː(ɹ)npaɪk// noun

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

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

The verdict

“turnpike” has 12 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #23,138. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#23,138
frequency rank, English
27,828
“T” headwords
12
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A frame consisting of two bars crossing each other at right angles and turning on a post or pin, to hinder the passage of animals, but admitting a person to pass between the arms.

Key facts for turnpike
PropertyValue
Headwordturnpike
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈtɜː(ɹ)npaɪk/
Letters8
Frequency rank#23,138
Misspellings tracked12
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “turnpike” 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). turnpike lands here:

#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 12 spelling variants around turnpike (IPA /ˈtɜː(ɹ)npaɪk/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #23,138 among 27,828 “T” headwords. Wiktionary lists 6 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 12 likely wrong-spelling variants for turnpike, with forms such as "trunpike", "tturnpike", and "tunrpike". 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. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, which tends to mean the word is visually distinctive enough to stand on its own.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English turnpyke (“spiked barrier across a road”), originally used to block access to such a road until a toll was paid. Equivalent to modern turn + pike (“shaft”). The correct English form is turnpike, spelled T-U-R-N-P-I-K-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    A frame consisting of two bars crossing each other at right angles and turning on a post or pin, to hinder the passage of animals, but admitting a person to pass between the arms.
  2. 2
    A gate or bar set across a road to stop carriages, animals, and sometimes people, until a toll is paid.
  3. 3
    A winding stairway.
  4. 4
    A beam filled with spikes to obstruct passage; a cheval de frise.
  5. 5
    A toll road, especially a toll expressway.
  6. 6
    A trajectory on a finite time interval that satisfies an optimality criterion which is associated with a cost function.

Etymology

From Middle English turnpyke (“spiked barrier across a road”), originally used to block access to such a road until a toll was paid. Equivalent to modern turn + pike (“shaft”).

This word in other languages

Mautstraße(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • trunpike
  • tturnpike
  • tunrpike
  • turnipke
  • turnnpike
  • turnpiek
  • turnpikke
  • turnpkie
  • turnppike
  • turpnike
  • turrnpike
  • utrnpike

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of turnpike - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

trunpike2tturnpike1tunrpike2turnipke2turnnpike1turnpiek2turnpikke1turnpkie2
Edit distance from "turnpike"

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 "turnpike"?
"turnpike" is spelled T-U-R-N-P-I-K-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈtɜː(ɹ)npaɪk/.
What does "turnpike" mean?
As a noun, "turnpike" means: A frame consisting of two bars crossing each other at right angles and turning on a post or pin, to hinder the passage of animals, but admitting a person to pass between the arms.
What are common misspellings of "turnpike"?
Common misspellings include "trunpike", "tturnpike", "tunrpike", "turnipke", "turnnpike". The correct spelling is "turnpike".
How do you pronounce "turnpike"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "turnpike" is /ˈtɜː(ɹ)npaɪk/. 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 "turnpike"?
From Middle English turnpyke (“spiked barrier across a road”), originally used to block access to such a road until a toll was paid. Equivalent to modern turn + pike (“shaft”). 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 “turnpike”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is T-U-R-N-P-I-K-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈtɜː(ɹ)npaɪk/ (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.

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list