vermin

/ˈvɝmɪn/

//ˈvɝmɪn// noun

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

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

The verdict

“vermin” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #30,642 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#30,642
frequency rank, English
6
letters
9
tracked misspellings
8
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Any of various common types of small insects or other animals which cause harm and annoyance.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

vermin vs virgin
67% similar
vermin vs Vernon
50% similar
vermin vs version
71% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for vermin
PropertyValue
Headwordvermin
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈvɝmɪn/
Letters6
Frequency rank#30,642
Misspellings tracked9
Confusable pairs8
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “vermin” 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). vermin lands here:

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

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

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for vermin is 6 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈvɝmɪn/. Corpus data places it at rank #30,642 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 9 likely wrong-spelling variants for vermin, with forms such as "evrmin", "vemrin", and "verimn". 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. It also participates in 8 confusable-pair relationships, "virgin", "Vernon", "version", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English vermyn, vermyne, from Old French vermine, from Vulgar Latin *verminum (“vermin”), collective noun formed from Latin vermis (“worm”). Compare vermiculate and vermivorous. See also worm. The correct English form is vermin, spelled V-E-R-M-I-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    Any of various common types of small insects or other animals which cause harm and annoyance.
  2. 2
    An animal that preys on game, such as a fox or a weasel.
  3. 3
    An obnoxious or mean and offensive person.

Etymology

From Middle English vermyn, vermyne, from Old French vermine, from Vulgar Latin *verminum (“vermin”), collective noun formed from Latin vermis (“worm”). Compare vermiculate and vermivorous. See also worm.

This word in other languages

alimaña(Español)vermine(Français)Ungeziefer(Deutsch)verme(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: evrmin,vemrin,verimn,verminn,vermmin,vermni,verrmin,vremin,vvermin

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of vermin - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

evrmin2vemrin2verimn2verminn1vermmin1vermni2verrmin1vremin2
Edit distance from "vermin"

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 "vermin"?
"vermin" is spelled V-E-R-M-I-N. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈvɝmɪn/.
What does "vermin" mean?
As a noun, "vermin" means: Any of various common types of small insects or other animals which cause harm and annoyance.
What words are commonly confused with "vermin"?
"vermin" is commonly confused with "virgin", "Vernon", "version". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "vermin"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "vermin" is /ˈvɝmɪn/. 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 "vermin"?
From Middle English vermyn, vermyne, from Old French vermine, from Vulgar Latin *verminum (“vermin”), collective noun formed from Latin vermis (“worm”). Compare vermiculate and vermivorous. See also worm. 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 “vermin”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is V-E-R-M-I-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈvɝmɪn/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “virgin” - see the side-by-side comparison. vermin vs virgin
  • 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.

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list