How common is rare?

33.6 occurrences per million words

Uncommon
33.6/M

Used occasionally in written English

Frequency scale

Very RareRareUncommonCommonVery Common

Reference words

the
56.3k/M
be
22.0k/M
have
7.3k/M
time
700.0/M
house
95.0/M
cat
21.0/M
exotic
4.0/M
rare
0.500/M

Compared to similar words

↑
shape
More common · 51.4/M
↓
saint
Less common · 19.9/M
Define RARE

Full dictionary entry

Synonyms of RARE

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Anagrams of RARE

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Frequently Asked Questions

How common is the word "rare"?

"RARE" has a frequency of 33.6 occurrences per million words of English text, placing it in the "Uncommon" category. Used occasionally in written English.

What does occurrences per million mean?

A frequency of 33.6/M means "rare" appears about 33.6 times in every million words of text — roughly once every 29,786 words.

Is a higher frequency score better?

Not necessarily — it depends on your goal. For everyday communication, high-frequency words are safer and clearer. For precise or technical writing, lower-frequency specialist words may be more accurate.