usurp
/juˈsɝp/
"usurp" is a 5-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“usurp” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #41,933 in English word frequency and used as a verb.
- #41,933
- frequency rank, English
- 5
- letters
- 7
- tracked misspellings
- 8
- confusable pairs
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To seize power from another, usually by illegitimate means.
Visual similarity to commonly confused words
How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).
Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | usurp |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Verb |
| IPA | /juˈsɝp/ |
| Letters | 5 |
| Frequency rank | #41,933 |
| Misspellings tracked | 7 |
| Confusable pairs | 8 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “usurp” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for usurp is 5 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /juˈsɝp/. Corpus data places it at rank #41,933 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 4 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.
Our generated misspelling index lists 7 likely wrong-spelling variants for usurp, with forms such as "suurp", "usrup", and "ussurp". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 8 confusable-pair relationships, "usurped", "usurper", "USP", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.
Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English usurpen, from Old French usurper, from Latin ūsūrpō (ūsus use + rapiō seize). The correct English form is usurp, spelled U-S-U-R-P.
Definition
- 1To seize power from another, usually by illegitimate means.
- 2To use and assume the coat of arms of another person.
- 3To take the place rightfully belonging to someone or something else.
- 4To make use of.
Etymology
From Middle English usurpen, from Old French usurper, from Latin ūsūrpō (ūsus use + rapiō seize).
This word in other languages
Common misspellings
Also misspelled as: suurp,usrup,ussurp,usupr,usurpp,usurrp,uusrp
Misspelling Pattern Breakdown
How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of usurp - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.
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 "usurp"?
What does "usurp" mean?
What words are commonly confused with "usurp"?
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Using “usurp”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is U-S-U-R-P - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /juˈsɝp/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
- Don't mix it up with “usurped” - see the side-by-side comparison. usurp vs usurped
- Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
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.