unbecoming

/ˌʌnbɪˈkʌmɪŋ/

//ˌʌnbɪˈkʌmɪŋ// adj

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

"unbecoming" is a 10-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“unbecoming” has 15 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #45,724. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#45,724
frequency rank, English
1,433
“U” headwords
15
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - Not flattering, attractive or appropriate.

Corpus desk

Index EN-unbecoming · unbecoming · English

unbecoming · rank #45,724 · 15 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-MID #45,724
  • LEN-MEGA 10 letters
  • VOW-4 4 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-HIGH 15 variants
  • BOOK-MID 1,433
  • PHOTO-FINISH unaided

Nearest frequency peer: unaided (-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.

Rank peers near misspelling magnet “unbecoming”

Same rarity band: useful when a typo lands on a peer headword

corpus weight

What this shows “unbecoming” sits among these FrequencyWords peers; misspelling depth is tracked separately in the edit-distance chart.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026
Key facts for unbecoming
PropertyValue
Headwordunbecoming
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˌʌnbɪˈkʌmɪŋ/
Letters10
Frequency rank#45,724
Misspellings tracked15
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “unbecoming”

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

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

Ticks step logarithmically, so each one marks a roughly tenfold drop in how often the word turns up. Same rarity band neighbours include “unaided” (#45,723), “universalist” (#45,725), “uhuru” (#45,722). Among 1,433 “U” headwords, “unbecoming” is #45,724. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 15 spelling variants around unbecoming (IPA /ˌʌnbɪˈkʌmɪŋ/), anadjective. Corpus frequency is #45,724 among 1,433 “U” headwords. Wiktionary lists 2 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 15 likely wrong-spelling variants for unbecoming, with forms such as "nubecoming", "ubnecoming", and "unbbecoming". 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, a sign it's visually distinctive enough not to be mixed up with another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: From un- + becoming. Compare Middle English unbicomelich (“unbecoming”). Equal to unbecome + -ing The correct English form is unbecoming, spelled U-N-B-E-C-O-M-I-N-G.

Definition

  1. 1
    Not flattering, attractive or appropriate.
  2. 2
    Not in keeping with the expected standards of one's position.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

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

  1. She wore a rather unbecoming hairstyle.
  2. A very small expensive black toque was hideously unbecoming to the yellow, toad-like face beneath it.

Etymology

From un- + becoming. Compare Middle English unbicomelich (“unbecoming”). Equal to unbecome + -ing

Synonyms

unsuitableunfitindecentindecorousimproper

Antonyms

becomingbefittingsuiting

This word in other languages

unschön(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • nubecoming
  • ubnecoming
  • unbbecoming
  • unbceoming
  • unbeccoming
  • unbecmoing
  • unbecoimng
  • unbecomign
  • unbecomingg
  • unbecominng
  • unbecomming
  • unbecomnig
  • unbeocming
  • unebcoming
  • unnbecoming

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

nubecoming2ubnecoming2unbbecoming1unbceoming2unbeccoming1unbecmoing2unbecoimng2unbecomign2
Edit distance from "unbecoming"

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 "unbecoming"?
"unbecoming" is spelled U-N-B-E-C-O-M-I-N-G. The IPA pronunciation is /ˌʌnbɪˈkʌmɪŋ/.
What does "unbecoming" mean?
As an adjective, "unbecoming" means: Not flattering, attractive or appropriate.
What are common misspellings of "unbecoming"?
Common misspellings include "nubecoming", "ubnecoming", "unbbecoming", "unbceoming", "unbeccoming". The correct spelling is "unbecoming".
How do you pronounce "unbecoming"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "unbecoming" is /ˌʌnbɪˈkʌmɪŋ/. 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 "unbecoming"?
From un- + becoming. Compare Middle English unbicomelich (“unbecoming”). Equal to unbecome + -ing 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 "unbecoming", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 10 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

unrealized#45,727unworkable#45,728Villeneuve#45,735speciation#45,670

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (15 here; floor ≥5).

Townshend15 variantssupposition15 variantsStrasburg15 variantsbestiality15 variants

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list