wisdom

/ˈwɪzdəm/

//ˈwɪzdəm// noun

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

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

The verdict

“wisdom” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #4,345 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#4,345
frequency rank, English
6
letters
9
tracked misspellings
2
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - An element of personal character that enables one to distinguish the wise from the unwise.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

wisdom vs widow
67% similar
wisdom vs window
67% similar

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

Key facts for wisdom
PropertyValue
Headwordwisdom
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈwɪzdəm/
Letters6
Frequency rank#4,345
Misspellings tracked9
Confusable pairs2
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “wisdom” 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). wisdom 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 wisdom is 6 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈwɪzdəm/. Corpus data places it at rank #4,345 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 9 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 wisdom, with forms such as "iwsdom", "widsom", and "wisddom". 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 2 confusable-pair relationships, "widow", "window", since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English wisdom, from Old English wīsdōm (“wisdom”), from Proto-West Germanic *wīsadōm, from Proto-Germanic *wīsadōmaz (“wisdom”), corresponding to wise + -dom. Cognate with Scots wisdom, wysdom (“wisdom”), West Frisian wiisdom (“wisdom”), Dutch … The correct English form is wisdom, spelled W-I-S-D-O-M.

Definition

  1. 1
    An element of personal character that enables one to distinguish the wise from the unwise.
  2. 2
    A piece of wise advice.
  3. 3
    The discretionary use of knowledge for the greatest good.
  4. 4
    The ability to apply relevant knowledge in an insightful way, especially to different situations from that in which the knowledge was gained.
  5. 5
    The ability to make a decision based on the combination of knowledge, experience, and intuitive understanding.
  6. 6
    The ability to know and apply spiritual truths.
  7. 7
    A group of wombats.
  8. 8
    A group of owls.
  9. 9
    Ellipsis of wisdom tooth.

Etymology

From Middle English wisdom, from Old English wīsdōm (“wisdom”), from Proto-West Germanic *wīsadōm, from Proto-Germanic *wīsadōmaz (“wisdom”), corresponding to wise + -dom. Cognate with Scots wisdom, wysdom (“wisdom”), West Frisian wiisdom (“wisdom”), Dutch wijsdom (“wisdom”), German Weistum (“legal sentence”), Danish/Norwegian/Swedish visdom (“wisdom”), Icelandic vísdómur (“wisdom”).

Synonyms

acuityastutenessclairvoyancediscernmentdiscriminationgumptioninsightnouspenetrationperspicacityprudencesagaciousnesssagacitysagelinesssagenesssapiencesavvysharpnesssophyunderstandingwisdomwisenesswit

Antonyms

foolishnessfollyfoolhardinessimprudencestupidityunwisdom

This word in other languages

sabiduría(Español)sagesse(Français)Weisheit(Deutsch)sabedoria(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: iwsdom,widsom,wisddom,wisdmo,wisdomm,wisodm,wissdom,wsidom,wwisdom

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of wisdom - 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.

iwsdom2widsom2wisddom1wisdmo2wisdomm1wisodm2wissdom1wsidom2
Edit distance from "wisdom"

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 "wisdom"?
"wisdom" is spelled W-I-S-D-O-M. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈwɪzdəm/.
What does "wisdom" mean?
As a noun, "wisdom" means: An element of personal character that enables one to distinguish the wise from the unwise.
What words are commonly confused with "wisdom"?
"wisdom" is commonly confused with "widow", "window". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "wisdom"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "wisdom" is /ˈwɪzdəm/. 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 "wisdom"?
From Middle English wisdom, from Old English wīsdōm (“wisdom”), from Proto-West Germanic *wīsadōm, from Proto-Germanic *wīsadōmaz (“wisdom”), corresponding to wise + -dom. Cognate with Scots wisdom, wysdom (“wisdom”), West Frisian wiisdom (“wisdom... 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 “wisdom”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is W-I-S-D-O-M - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈwɪzdəm/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “widow” - see the side-by-side comparison. wisdom vs widow
  • 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