zapper

/ˈzæp.ə(ɹ)/

//ˈzæp.ə(ɹ)// noun

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

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

The verdict

“zapper” is uncommon English (frequency #76,487 among 2,810 “Z” headwords), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#76,487
frequency rank, English
2,810
“Z” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A remote control for a television.

Key facts for zapper
PropertyValue
Headwordzapper
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈzæp.ə(ɹ)/
Letters6
Frequency rank#76,487
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “zapper” 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). zapper lands here:

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

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

Rare enough to double-check

zapper is uncommon English at frequency #76,487 among 2,810 “Z” headwords, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈzæp.ə(ɹ)/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 4 senses are on record.

The misspelling generator found no plausible variants for zapper, since its letter sequence doesn't invite the usual edit-distance slips. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, a sign it's visually distinctive enough not to be mixed up with another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: From zap + -er. The correct English form is zapper, spelled Z-A-P-P-E-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    A remote control for a television.
  2. 2
    A device that electrifies or electrocutes.
  3. 3
    Anything that exterminates.
  4. 4
    A microwave oven.

Etymology

From zap + -er.

This word in other languages

zapette(Français)Fernbedienung(Deutsch)

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 "zapper"?
"zapper" is spelled Z-A-P-P-E-R. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈzæp.ə(ɹ)/.
What does "zapper" mean?
As a noun, "zapper" means: A remote control for a television.
How do you pronounce "zapper"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "zapper" is /ˈzæp.ə(ɹ)/. 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 "zapper"?
From zap + -er. 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 “zapper”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is Z-A-P-P-E-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈzæp.ə(ɹ)/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Other uncommon English words near this rank

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