uncoil

/ʌnˈkɔɪəl/

//ʌnˈkɔɪəl// verb

"uncoil" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“uncoil” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a verb. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
6
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - To unwind or untwist (something).

Corpus desk

Index EN-uncoil · uncoil · English

uncoil · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
  • LEN-LONG 6 letters
  • VOW-3 3 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-THIN "U" thin
  • PHOTO-UNK Peer pending

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.

Key facts for uncoil
PropertyValue
Headworduncoil
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ʌnˈkɔɪəl/
Letters6
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “uncoil” in English

uncoilsits beyond the 100,000 most-frequent English words, in the long tail of technical, archaic, or otherwise rare vocabulary where spelling doubt tends to strike hardest.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

uncoil is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as averb, transcribed /ʌnˈkɔɪəl/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 3 senses are on record.

No misspelling variants are generated for uncoil in our index, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. Our dataset records no confusable match here, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: From un- + coil. The correct English form is uncoil, spelled U-N-C-O-I-L.

Definition

  1. 1
    To unwind or untwist (something).
  2. 2
    To unwind or untwist oneself.
  3. 3
    To defecate.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

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

  1. Can you help me uncoil this rope?
  2. I was walking up and down, putting her to sleep one evening, when I found myself treading on something most repulsively soft; and as I did so, the reptile uncoiled itself and quietly glided off the verandah.

Etymology

From un- + coil.

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "uncoil"?
"uncoil" is spelled U-N-C-O-I-L. The IPA pronunciation is /ʌnˈkɔɪəl/.
What does "uncoil" mean?
As a verb, "uncoil" means: To unwind or untwist (something).
How do you pronounce "uncoil"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "uncoil" is /ʌnˈkɔɪəl/. 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 "uncoil"?
From un- + coil. 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.

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list