unbeknown

/ʌnbɪˈnəʊn/

//ʌnbɪˈnəʊn// adj

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

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

The verdict

“unbeknown” is uncommon English (frequency #87,937 among 23,789 “U” headwords), classed as an adjective. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#87,937
frequency rank, English
23,789
“U” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Not beknown.

Key facts for unbeknown
PropertyValue
Headwordunbeknown
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ʌnbɪˈnəʊn/
Letters9
Frequency rank#87,937
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “unbeknown” 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). unbeknown lands here:

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

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

Rare enough to double-check

unbeknown is uncommon English at frequency #87,937 among 23,789 “U” headwords, classed as anadjective, transcribed /ʌnbɪˈnəʊn/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. Gloss: "Not beknown.".

No generated misspelling entries exist for unbeknown in our index, since its letter pattern doesn't lend itself to common typo substitutions. 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 un- + beknown. The correct English form is unbeknown, spelled U-N-B-E-K-N-O-W-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    Not beknown.

Etymology

From un- + beknown.

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 "unbeknown"?
"unbeknown" is spelled U-N-B-E-K-N-O-W-N. The IPA pronunciation is /ʌnbɪˈnəʊn/.
What does "unbeknown" mean?
As an adjective, "unbeknown" means: Not beknown.
How do you pronounce "unbeknown"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "unbeknown" is /ʌnbɪˈnəʊn/. 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 "unbeknown"?
From un- + beknown. 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 “unbeknown”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is U-N-B-E-K-N-O-W-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ʌnbɪˈnəʊn/ (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

Other uncommon English words near this rank

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