unobtrusively

/ˌʌn.əbˈtɹuː.sɪv.li/

//ˌʌn.əbˈtɹuː.sɪv.li// adv

"unobtrusively" is a 13-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“unobtrusively” is uncommon English (frequency #88,975 among 23,789 “U” headwords), classed as an adverb. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#88,975
frequency rank, English
23,789
“U” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - In an unobtrusive manner; in a manner that is not noticeable or blatant.

Corpus desk

Index EN-unobtrusively · unobtrusively · English

unobtrusively · rank #88,975 · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-RARE #88,975
  • LEN-MEGA 13 letters
  • VOW-6 6 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-DENSE 23,789
  • PHOTO-FINISH unproblematic

Nearest frequency peer: unproblematic (+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.

Frequency neighbourhood for “unobtrusively”

Lower corpus rank = more everyday usage (inverted bar length for readability)

corpus weight

What this shows Bars show where “unobtrusively” sits against the nearest ranked English headwords in the FrequencyWords band, not a reprint of letter-browse containment.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of May 6, 2026
Key facts for unobtrusively
PropertyValue
Headwordunobtrusively
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdverb
IPA/ˌʌn.əbˈtɹuː.sɪv.li/
Letters13
Frequency rank#88,975
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “unobtrusively” 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). unobtrusively 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

unobtrusively is uncommon English at frequency #88,975 among 23,789 “U” headwords, classed as anadverb, transcribed /ˌʌn.əbˈtɹuː.sɪv.li/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. Gloss: "In an unobtrusive manner; in a manner that is not noticeable or blatant.".

Zero misspellings are on record for unobtrusively in our index, a straightforward case of a spelling with little room for common typos. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

Etymologically, the entry records: From unobtrusive + -ly or un- + obtrusively. The correct English form is unobtrusively, spelled U-N-O-B-T-R-U-S-I-V-E-L-Y.

Definition

  1. 1
    In an unobtrusive manner; in a manner that is not noticeable or blatant.

Etymology

From unobtrusive + -ly or un- + obtrusively.

Synonyms

This word in other languages

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.

PlainSpell is rendered directly from structured Wiktionary extracts and open word-frequency lists, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 6, 2026. Primary sources: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) and FrequencyWords.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "unobtrusively"?
"unobtrusively" is spelled U-N-O-B-T-R-U-S-I-V-E-L-Y. The IPA pronunciation is /ˌʌn.əbˈtɹuː.sɪv.li/.
What does "unobtrusively" mean?
As an adverb, "unobtrusively" means: In an unobtrusive manner; in a manner that is not noticeable or blatant.
How do you pronounce "unobtrusively"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "unobtrusively" is /ˌʌn.əbˈtɹuː.sɪv.li/. 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 "unobtrusively"?
From unobtrusive + -ly or un- + obtrusively. 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 "unobtrusively", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 13 letters (nearest by frequency 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