zigzag

/ˈzɪɡ.zæɡ/

//ˈzɪɡ.zæɡ// noun

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

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

The verdict

“zigzag” has 9 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #36,408. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#36,408
frequency rank, English
265
“Z” headwords
9
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - A line or path that proceeds by sharp turns in alternating directions.

Corpus desk

Index EN-zigzag · zigzag · English

zigzag · rank #36,408 · 9 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-MID #36,408
  • LEN-LONG 6 letters
  • VOW-2 2 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-MID 9 variants
  • BOOK-MID 265
  • PHOTO-FINISH zika

Nearest frequency peer: zika (+1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Rank peers near misspelling magnet “zigzag”

Same rarity band: useful when a typo lands on a peer headword

corpus weight

What this shows “zigzag” sits among these FrequencyWords peers; misspelling depth is tracked separately in the edit-distance chart.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026
Key facts for zigzag
PropertyValue
Headwordzigzag
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈzɪɡ.zæɡ/
Letters6
Frequency rank#36,408
Misspellings tracked9
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “zigzag”

This scale runs from the tiny cluster of words that carry ordinary speech (left) to the long tail of words almost nobody reaches for (right).zigzaglands here:

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

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Same rarity band neighbours include “zika” (#36,409), “yip” (#36,406), “aah” (#36,411). Among 265 “Z” headwords, “zigzag” is #36,408. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 9 spelling variants around zigzag (IPA /ˈzɪɡ.zæɡ/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #36,408 among 265 “Z” headwords. Wiktionary lists 2 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 9 likely wrong-spelling variants for zigzag, with forms such as "izgzag", "zgizag", and "zigazg". 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. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

Etymologically, the entry records: Attested from 1712. Borrowed from French zigzag (attested from 1662), possibly from a Germanic source via Walloon ziczac (although German Zickzack is attested only from 1703). Also, possibly from the shape of the letter Z, which appears twice in the word. S… The correct English form is zigzag, spelled Z-I-G-Z-A-G.

Definition

  1. 1
    A line or path that proceeds by sharp turns in alternating directions.
  2. 2
    One of these sharp turns.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how zigzag appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. She had just succeeded in curving it down into a graceful zigzag, and was going to dive in among the leaves, which she found to be nothing but the tops of the trees under which she had been wandering, when a sharp hiss made her draw back in a hurry: […].
  2. And still, high in front, arose the precipitous barrier of the mountain, greened over where it seemed that scarce a harebell could find root, barred with the zigzags of a human road where it seemed that not a goat could scramble.

Etymology

Attested from 1712. Borrowed from French zigzag (attested from 1662), possibly from a Germanic source via Walloon ziczac (although German Zickzack is attested only from 1703). Also, possibly from the shape of the letter Z, which appears twice in the word. Sense “drunk” from the zigzag movements of a drunk person.

This word in other languages

zigzag(Español)zigzag(Français)Zickzack(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • izgzag
  • zgizag
  • zigazg
  • ziggzag
  • zigzagg
  • zigzga
  • zigzzag
  • zizgag
  • zzigzag

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of zigzag - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

izgzag2zgizag2zigazg2ziggzag1zigzagg1zigzga2zigzzag1zizgag2
Edit distance from "zigzag"

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 "zigzag"?
"zigzag" is spelled Z-I-G-Z-A-G. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈzɪɡ.zæɡ/.
What does "zigzag" mean?
As a noun, "zigzag" means: A line or path that proceeds by sharp turns in alternating directions.
What are common misspellings of "zigzag"?
Common misspellings include "izgzag", "zgizag", "zigazg", "ziggzag", "zigzagg". The correct spelling is "zigzag".
How do you pronounce "zigzag"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "zigzag" is /ˈzɪɡ.zæɡ/. 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 "zigzag"?
Attested from 1712. Borrowed from French zigzag (attested from 1662), possibly from a Germanic source via Walloon ziczac (although German Zickzack is attested only from 1703). Also, possibly from the shape of the letter Z, which appears twice in t... 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.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "zigzag", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 6 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

acuity#36,417Adrien#36,419verity#36,390talkie#36,368

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (9 here; floor ≥5).

Abilene9 variantsabscess9 variantsbeastie9 variantsbedouin9 variants

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list