# wildcard

> English word · Noun · frequency rank #23,436

## Definitions
1. A character that takes the place of any other character or string that is not known or specified.
2. An uncontrolled or unpredictable element.
3. An element, often deliberately concealed, which is withheld for contingency.
4. Alternative form of wild card.
5. A letter or symbol that substitutes for a generic or poorly identified sound, for example capital C for any or some consonant, or capital V for any or some vowel.

## Etymology
From wild + card.

## Easily confused with
- **Willard** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wildcard-vs-willard)
- **wildcat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wildcard-vs-wildcat)
- **windward** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wildcard-vs-windward)

## Common misspellings (13)
`iwldcard`, `widlcard`, `wilcdard`, `wildacrd`, `wildcadr`, `wildcardd`, `wildcarrd`, `wildccard`, `wildcrad`, `wilddcard`, `willdcard`, `wlidcard`, `wwildcard`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/wildcard