Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

wanton

/ˈwɑntən/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.86 in modern English

Syllables
wan-ton
IPA
/ˈwɑntən/
9
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
2
Syllables
5
Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Undisciplined, unruly; not able to be controlled.

Archaic

adj

Playful, sportive; merry or carefree.

Obsolete

noun

A pampered or coddled person.

Example Sentences

Etymology

From Middle English wantoun, wantowen, wantoȝen, wantowe (“uneducated; unrestrained; licentious; sportive; playful”), from wan- (“not, un-, mis-”) + towen, i-towen (“educated”, literally “towed; led; drawn”), from Old English togen, ġetogen, past participle of tēon (“to train, discipline”), equivalent to wan- + towed.

Origin

Word Breakdown

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /ˈwɑntən/
  • British English: /ˈwɒntən/

Usage

Inflected Forms

Derived Forms

Phrases

Frequently Paired Words

Synonyms

Homonyms

Antonyms

Rhymes With

Questions

How do you pronounce wanton?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈwɑntən/.
What does wanton mean?
Undisciplined, unruly; not able to be controlled.
Where does wanton come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce wanton

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “wanton”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈwɑntən/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “wanton”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “wanton” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.