Spicket or Spigot: Which Is Correct? Meaning, Usage & Examples

Spicket or spigot can be confusing because both forms are used to describe an outdoor faucet or a device that controls the flow of water. However, spigot is the standard spelling used in American English and is the best choice for formal and everyday writing. Spicket is a regional or nonstandard variant that you may hear in some areas.

If you are wondering which spelling to use, choose spigot. This guide explains the meaning, usage, pronunciation, examples, and common confusion between the two words. 

Quick Answer:

Spigot is the standard English word for a device that controls the flow of liquid from a pipe, tank, barrel, or other container.

Spicket is commonly used in some regions as a variant pronunciation or spelling of spigot. It is not the preferred form in standard edited English.

Correct for most writing: spigot
Regional/casual variant: spicket

Quick Comparison

What Does Spigot Mean?

A spigot is a device used to control the flow of liquid, especially water. You might find one attached to an outdoor wall, garden pipe, barrel, tank, or other container.

In everyday American English, spigot often refers to an outdoor water faucet where you connect a garden hose.

For example:

• Turn off the spigot before you disconnect the hose.
• The outdoor spigot is leaking.
• We attached the garden hose to the spigot.
• The plumber replaced the broken spigot.

The word can also describe a valve that controls liquids other than household water. For example, a barrel or beverage container can have a spigot that allows liquid to flow out.

What Does Spicket Mean?

Spicket is a word you may hear in certain American regions, especially in informal speech. It is generally used to refer to the same kind of outdoor faucet or water valve as a spigot.

For many speakers, spicket feels completely natural because it is part of their regional vocabulary. However, it is not the preferred spelling for standard edited English.

For example:

My grandfather always called the outdoor faucet a spicket.

This sentence reflects regional usage rather than the standard spelling normally expected in professional writing.

If you’re writing an article, report, email, school assignment, or other formal text, spigot is the better choice.

Why Do People Say “Spicket”?

The confusion probably comes from the way the word is pronounced in some varieties of American English. People may hear or say something closer to “spicket” and naturally spell it that way.

There is also a long history of regional vocabulary in American English. Words don’t always develop or spread uniformly across the country, so a term that sounds unusual in one region can be perfectly familiar in another.

That means someone saying spicket isn’t necessarily trying to make a spelling mistake. They may simply be using a regional form they’ve heard since childhood.

Still, if your goal is standard written English, choose spigot.

Spigot vs. Spicket: Which Should You Use?

The choice is fairly simple:

Use spigot when:

• You’re writing formally.
• You’re writing for a general audience.
• You’re describing a water faucet or valve.
• You want the standard spelling.
• You’re writing an email, report, article, or school assignment.

Spicket may be appropriate when:

• You’re quoting someone’s regional speech.
• You’re discussing dialect or regional vocabulary.
• You’re intentionally preserving informal wording.

For example:

Standard:

Please turn off the garden spigot.

Regional/informal:

My neighbor calls the garden faucet a spicket.

The meaning is clear in both sentences, but spigot is the better general-purpose choice.

8 Examples of Spigot and Spicket

Here are some practical examples to make the difference easier to remember:

1. The garden spigot needs to be repaired.
2. Water was dripping from the outdoor spigot.
3. She connected the hose to the spigot.
4. Remember to turn off the spigot before leaving.
5. My uncle calls the outdoor faucet a spicket.
6. “Spicket” is a regional term you may hear in some parts of the United States.
7. The old spigot froze during the winter.
8. For a formal document, use spigot rather than spicket.

Notice that spigot works naturally in standard writing, while spicket mainly appears when regional usage itself is relevant.

Is Spicket a Misspelling of Spigot?

Not always. This is an important distinction.

If someone writes spicket when they simply mean the standard word spigot, many editors would replace it with spigot in formal writing. However, spicket is also found as a regional or dialectal form in American English.

So calling it always wrong is too broad.

A better rule is:

Spigot is the standard spelling; spicket is a regional variant that may occur in informal American English.

This distinction gives you a more accurate understanding of how the words are actually used.

How to Remember the Correct Spelling

Use this simple memory trick:

Spigot = standard

Both words start with spi-, but when you’re writing about a faucet or water valve and aren’t specifically trying to represent regional speech, choose spigot.

Think:

Water faucet → SPIGOT

That one association is enough for most everyday writing.

Common Mistake

A common mistake is assuming that spicket and spigot are two completely unrelated objects.

They generally refer to the same type of device. The important difference is standard versus regional usage, not the basic object they describe.

Another mistake is assuming that because spicket appears in dictionaries or real-world speech, it must be equally standard everywhere. English has many regional forms, but that doesn’t mean every form has the same status in formal writing.

FAQS

Is it spicket or spigot?

Spigot is the standard spelling for a faucet or valve that controls the flow of liquid. Spicket is also used in some American regional varieties, usually referring to the same thing. 

For formal, professional, or general-purpose writing, spigot is the safest choice.

Is “spicket” a real word?

Yes. Spicket is used as a regional or dialectal form of spigot, particularly in some areas of the United States. 

However, it is much less standard in edited writing. If you are not intentionally using regional language, spigot is the better choice.

What is a spigot?

A spigot is a faucet, valve, or outlet that controls the flow of liquid from a pipe, barrel, tank, or container. In American English, the word commonly refers to an outdoor water faucet used to connect a garden hose.

What is the difference between a spigot and a spicket?

The main difference is usage and spelling, not the object itself. Spigot is the standard form, while spicket is a regional variant used by some American speakers. 

Both can refer to a faucet or valve that controls liquid flow.

Which should I use in formal writing?

Use spigot. It is the standard form and will be understood across English-speaking audiences. Spicket can be appropriate when discussing regional speech or quoting someone, but it is generally not the preferred choice for formal writing.

Key Takeaways

• Spigot is the standard spelling.
• A spigot is a faucet, valve, or outlet that controls liquid flow.
• Spicket is a regional or dialectal variant found in some American English.
• The two words generally refer to the same type of device.
• Use spigot in formal, professional, academic, and general-purpose writing.
• Use spicket when regional or informal usage is specifically intended.

Conclusion

When you mean a faucet, tap, or valve that controls the flow of water, spigot is the standard spelling to use. Spicket does appear in regional speech and informal usage, but it is not the preferred form in standard American English. So, if you are writing an email, article, school assignment, or professional document, stick with spigot. A simple rule to remember is: water faucet = spigot. 

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Mignon Fogarty

Mignon Fogarty is an experienced English grammar and writing expert specializing in grammar, word usage, and clear American English. At EduNexxt, her focus is making grammar simple, accurate, and practical.