macadam

\ma.ka.dam\

/\ma.ka.dam\/ noun

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

The verdict

“macadam” has 10 generated spelling variants in the French index at frequency #47,436. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#47,436
frequency rank, French
202,672
“M” headwords
10
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Empierrement de routes ou de pavage de rues qui se fait avec des cailloux ou du granit concassé, fortement comprimés.

Key facts for macadam
PropertyValue
Headwordmacadam
LanguageFrench
Part of speechNoun
IPA\ma.ka.dam\
Letters7
Frequency rank#47,436
Misspellings tracked10
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “macadam” sits in French 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). macadam 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 10 spelling variants around macadam (IPA \ma.ka.dam\), anoun. Corpus frequency is #47,436 among 202,672 “M” headwords. Wiktionary lists 5 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 10 likely wrong-spelling variants for macadam, with forms such as "amcadam", "maacdam", and "macaadm". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It is not paired with a close-neighbour confusable in our dataset, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.

This entry carries no recorded etymology, so its spelling is easiest explained by how it's pronounced rather than where it came from. The correct French form is macadam, spelled M-A-C-A-D-A-M.

Definition

  1. 1
    Empierrement de routes ou de pavage de rues qui se fait avec des cailloux ou du granit concassé, fortement comprimés.
  2. 2
    Chaussée ou trottoir ainsi empierré.
  3. 3
    Couche d’asphalte ou d'enrobé bitumineux utilisé comme revêtement de la chaussée.
  4. 4
    Toutes sortes de route, et en particulier les routes goudronnées.
  5. 5
    Escroquerie aux assurances maladies.

This word in other languages

macadam(English)macadán(Español)Makadam(Deutsch)macadam(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • amcadam
  • maacdam
  • macaadm
  • macadamm
  • macaddam
  • macadma
  • maccadam
  • macdaam
  • mcaadam
  • mmacadam

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of macadam - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

amcadam2maacdam2macaadm2macadamm1macaddam1macadma2maccadam1macdaam2
Edit distance from "macadam"

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 French corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "macadam"?
"macadam" is spelled M-A-C-A-D-A-M. The IPA pronunciation is \ma.ka.dam\.
What does "macadam" mean?
As a noun, "macadam" means: Empierrement de routes ou de pavage de rues qui se fait avec des cailloux ou du granit concassé, fortement comprimés.
What are common misspellings of "macadam"?
Common misspellings include "amcadam", "maacdam", "macaadm", "macadamm", "macaddam". The correct spelling is "macadam".
How do you pronounce "macadam"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "macadam" is \ma.ka.dam\. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "macadam" come from?
"macadam" is a French word. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, and spelling data for this and other words across English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German on PlainSpell.
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 “macadam”

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

  • The one correct French spelling is M-A-C-A-D-A-M - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as \ma.ka.dam\ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more French words and confusable pairs in the same reference. French 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