webcam

/ˈwɛbˌkæm/

//ˈwɛbˌkæm// noun

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

The verdict

“webcam” has 9 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #15,306. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#15,306
frequency rank, English
12,113
“W” headwords
9
tracked misspellings
1
confusable pair

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A video camera whose output may be viewed in real time over a computer network, originally the World Wide Web.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

webcam vs webcast
71% similar

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

Key facts for webcam
PropertyValue
Headwordwebcam
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈwɛbˌkæm/
Letters6
Frequency rank#15,306
Misspellings tracked9
Confusable pairs1
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “webcam” 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). webcam lands here:

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

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

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 9 spelling variants around webcam (IPA /ˈwɛbˌkæm/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #15,306 among 12,113 “W” headwords. Dominant gloss: "A video camera whose output may be viewed in real time over a computer network, originally the World Wide Web.".

Our generated misspelling index lists 9 likely wrong-spelling variants for webcam, with forms such as "ewbcam", "wbecam", and "webacm". 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 1 confusable-pair relationship, "webcast", where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Web + cam, shortened from camera. The correct English form is webcam, spelled W-E-B-C-A-M.

Definition

  1. 1
    A video camera whose output may be viewed in real time over a computer network, originally the World Wide Web.

Etymology

From Web + cam, shortened from camera.

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • ewbcam
  • wbecam
  • webacm
  • webbcam
  • webcamm
  • webccam
  • webcma
  • wecbam
  • wwebcam

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of webcam - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

ewbcam2wbecam2webacm2webbcam1webcamm1webccam1webcma2wecbam2
Edit distance from "webcam"

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 "webcam"?
"webcam" is spelled W-E-B-C-A-M. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈwɛbˌkæm/.
What does "webcam" mean?
As a noun, "webcam" means: A video camera whose output may be viewed in real time over a computer network, originally the World Wide Web.
What words are commonly confused with "webcam"?
"webcam" is commonly confused with "webcast". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "webcam"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "webcam" is /ˈwɛbˌkæm/. 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 "webcam"?
From Web + cam, shortened from camera. 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 “webcam”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is W-E-B-C-A-M - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈwɛbˌkæm/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “webcast” - see the side-by-side comparison. webcam vs webcast
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Same frequency band

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