spell-check

1 of 2

noun

ˈspel-ˌchek 

variants or spellcheck or spell check

plural spell-checks or spellchecks or spell checks

: the act or process of using a spellchecker to identify possible misspellings

do/run a quick spell-check

an error found by spell-check

also : the function or capability provided by a spellchecker

a program equipped with spell-check

Have spell-check and instant messaging (oh, the grammar and spelling!) ruined the copy editors of tomorrow?

—Stephanie A. Weiss

—often used before another noun

a spell-check device/program/function

spell-check

2 of 2

verb

spell-checked; spell-checking; spell-checks

transitive verb

: to check the spelling of (something, such a document or block of text) by using a spellchecker

Not only can I put words together at 10 times the speed of using pen and paper, but I can also transfer those words to the digital realm, where they can be edited, spell-checked, e-mailed, quoted, blogged and Googled.

—Steven Johnson

Examples of spell-check in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

But the program might finally receive an important basic feature: spell-check. —Michael Kan, PCMAG, 22 Mar. 2024

Give him a checklist of crucial items to confirm for every project: names, spell-check, living status. —Karla L. Miller, Washington Post, 22 Feb. 2024

Forms of artificial intelligence, of course, have existed for decades (think spell-check programs or digital thermostats). —Todd Spangler, Variety, 16 Aug. 2023

Using the technology isn’t the same as using any other tool, like a calculator or spell-check. —Rachel Shin, Fortune, 13 June 2023

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1983, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1983, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

spell-check

noun

ˈspel-ˌchek 

: the act or process of using a spellchecker to identify possible misspellings

also : the function or capability provided by a spellchecker

spell-check verb