7-letter words with O as the 1st letter and C as the 6th letter

The pattern O _ _ _ _ C _ leaves a compact set of tournament-dictionary words. Collins lists all 21 matches, while ENABLE and NWL2023 each list 18. Familiar choices such as OFFENCE, OSTRICH, and OUTBACK sit beside less common entries, so the best match depends on recognition, a specific letter placement, or a strong board score.

At a glance: the O-and-C pattern

• There are 21 seven-letter matches with O first and C sixth.
• OUTKICK leads the scoring list at 17 points; OUTWICK follows at 16.
• Only 2 matches fall within the top 25,000 English words by frequency.
• Six words end in E and six end in K, making those the most common final letters.
• Nineteen entries have definitions available.

Which O-first, C-sixth words are easiest to recognize?

OFFENCE, OUTBACK, OSTRICH, and ORIFICE are among the more recognizable choices in this pattern. OUTPACE and OVERACT are also easier to parse than entries such as OOMIACK or OPORICE, which are less familiar to many players.

The rarity split matters: just 2 of the 21 words meet the common-word cutoff. Treat the full set as a pattern-solving resource, not a promise that every entry will come to mind during a timed game. Collins has 21 matches; ENABLE and NWL2023 each have 18, so check your game's word list before relying on an unfamiliar answer.

Scores and nearby patterns

OUTKICK scores 17 points before board bonuses, and OUTWICK scores 16; both outrank the 15-point entries OFFENCE, OUTBACK, and OOMIACK. For a more familiar play, OSTRICH and ORIFICE each score 12, while OVIDUCT and OARLOCK score 13.

The ending pattern is unusually balanced: E and K tie at six matches apiece, then S appears three times. A useful board-game distinction is that the high-scoring K words need a place for their final tile; OUTKICK's printed score alone does not account for premium squares or rack value. For a nearby contrast, the O-first, E-sixth pattern has 155 matches, far more than this C-sixth set.