American and British spelling

The English Wiktionary gives 364 pairs of English words in written use as regional spellings of each other (“Commonwealth standard spelling of color”). The most common pattern is -ize / -ise (207 pairs).

The patterns

-ize / -ise207

-or / -our56

e / ae, oe16

one l / two14

-er / -re12

-o- / -ou-5

-ense / -ence3

-ter / -tre2

-og / -ogue2

-yze / -yse2

-m / -mme1

Pairs with a regional label, by the spelling pattern that separates them. The analysis.

Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).

300 of the 364 regional pairs

One spelling	The other	Wiktionary's label
programme	program	British and Commonwealth
centre	center	British and Commonwealth
favorite	favourite	American
organisation	organization	British (non-Oxford)
colour	color	British and Commonwealth
realise	realize	British (non-Oxford)
honour	honor	British and Commonwealth
behaviour	behavior	British
favour	favor	British
recognised	recognized	British (non-Oxford)
recognise	recognize	British (non-Oxford)
licence	license	British and Commonwealth
neighbourhood	neighborhood	British
grey	gray	British and Commonwealth
dependant	dependent	British and Commonwealth
offence	offense	British and Commonwealth
focussing	focusing	British and Commonwealth
canceled	cancelled	American
coloured	colored	British
humor	humour	American
apologise	apologize	British (non-Oxford)
jewelry	jewellery	American
neighbor	neighbour	American
honored	honoured	American
specialised	specialized	British (non-Oxford)
flavour	flavor	British
ageing	aging	British and Commonwealth
civilisation	civilization	British and Commonwealth
aluminum	aluminium	American and Canadian
centred	centered	British and Commonwealth
organise	organize	British (non-Oxford)
tumour	tumor	British and Commonwealth
armour	armor	British
modelling	modeling	British and Commonwealth
enrolment	enrollment	British
labelled	labeled	British
catalog	catalogue	American
fulfil	fulfill	British
favorable	favourable	American
analyse	analyze	British
honourable	honorable	British
minimise	minimize	British (non-Oxford)
colourful	colorful	British
favored	favoured	American
mould	mold	British and Commonwealth
utilize	utilise	British (Oxford)
authorisation	authorization	British (non-Oxford)
rumour	rumor	British and Commonwealth
emphasise	emphasize	British
councilor	councillor	American
sceptical	skeptical	British and Commonwealth
saviour	savior	British
cozy	cosy	American
maximise	maximize	British (non-Oxford)
criticise	criticize	British (non-Oxford)
instalment	installment	British and Commonwealth
organiser	organizer	British (non-Oxford)
traveler	traveller	American
vapour	vapor	British
endeavour	endeavor	British
manoeuvre	maneuver	British and Commonwealth
encyclopaedia	encyclopedia	British and Commonwealth
civilised	civilized	British (non-Oxford)
utilization	utilisation	British (Oxford)
arbour	arbor	British
odour	odor	British
centralised	centralized	British (non-Oxford)
stabilise	stabilize	British (non-Oxford)
globalization	globalisation	British (Oxford)
enrol	enroll	British and Commonwealth
fulfillment	fulfilment	American
flavored	flavoured	American
artefact	artifact	British
mustache	moustache	American
legalisation	legalization	British (non-Oxford)
authorise	authorize	British (non-Oxford)
dike	dyke	American
capitalise	capitalize	British (non-Oxford)
parlour	parlor	British and Commonwealth
optimise	optimize	British (non-Oxford)
characterise	characterize	British (non-Oxford)
visualisation	visualization	British (non-Oxford)
prioritise	prioritize	British
polarised	polarized	British (non-Oxford)
stabilisation	stabilization	British (non-Oxford)
paedophile	pedophile	British and Commonwealth
miaow	meow	British
specialisation	specialization	British (non-Oxford)
specialise	specialize	British (non-Oxford)
visualise	visualize	British (non-Oxford)
customise	customize	British (non-Oxford)
privatisation	privatization	British (non-Oxford)
legalise	legalize	British (non-Oxford)
polarisation	polarization	British (non-Oxford)
groin	groyne	American
spectre	specter	British and Commonwealth
valor	valour	American
armory	armoury	American
memorise	memorize	British (non-Oxford)
unfavorable	unfavourable	American
kilometer	kilometre	American
demeanour	demeanor	British and Commonwealth
computerized	computerised	British (Oxford)
saber	sabre	American
capitalized	capitalised	British (Oxford)
fuelling	fueling	British
colter	coulter	American
skilful	skillful	British and Commonwealth
millimeter	millimetre	American
lasagne	lasagna	British
capitalization	capitalisation	British (Oxford)
synchronisation	synchronization	British (non-Oxford)
paedophilia	pedophilia	British
sterilisation	sterilization	British (non-Oxford)
jeopardise	jeopardize	British (non-Oxford)
centerpiece	centrepiece	American
haemorrhage	hemorrhage	British
standardisation	standardization	British (non-Oxford)
willful	wilful	American
industrialisation	industrialization	British (non-Oxford)
worshiping	worshipping	American
willfully	wilfully	American
rigor	rigour	American
stylised	stylized	British (non-Oxford)
sympathise	sympathize	British (non-Oxford)
fervour	fervor	British and Commonwealth
splendour	splendor	British and Commonwealth
somber	sombre	American
kabob	kebab	American
modernise	modernize	British (non-Oxford)
tranquility	tranquillity	American
colorless	colourless	American
pretence	pretense	British
instil	instill	British and Commonwealth
normalise	normalize	British (non-Oxford)
normalisation	normalization	British (non-Oxford)
moisturiser	moisturizer	British (non-Oxford)
materialise	materialize	British (non-Oxford)
amortisation	amortization	British (non-Oxford)
equaliser	equalizer	British (non-Oxford)
lightsabre	lightsaber	British
synthesise	synthesize	British (non-Oxford)
idealised	idealized	British (non-Oxford)
labourer	laborer	British
subsidise	subsidize	British (non-Oxford)
categorise	categorize	British (non-Oxford)
generalise	generalize	British (non-Oxford)
epicenter	epicentre	American
revitalisation	revitalization	British (non-Oxford)
finalise	finalize	British (non-Oxford)
rationalise	rationalize	British (non-Oxford)
dishonor	dishonour	American
ischaemic	ischemic	British
revitalize	revitalise	British (Oxford)
unrecognised	unrecognized	British (non-Oxford)
omelet	omelette	American
liquorice	licorice	British and Commonwealth
skilfully	skillfully	British
liberalisation	liberalization	British (non-Oxford)
hybridisation	hybridization	British (non-Oxford)
fantasise	fantasize	British (non-Oxford)
monetise	monetize	British (non-Oxford)
candour	candor	British
unrivalled	unrivaled	British
terrorise	terrorize	British (non-Oxford)
familiarise	familiarize	British (non-Oxford)
honorably	honourably	American
colonise	colonize	British (non-Oxford)
modernising	modernizing	British (non-Oxford)
enamoured	enamored	British and Commonwealth
democratisation	democratization	British (non-Oxford)
flavouring	flavoring	British
unrecognisable	unrecognizable	British (non-Oxford)
energise	energize	British (non-Oxford)
empathise	empathize	British (non-Oxford)
legitimise	legitimize	British (non-Oxford)
smoldering	smouldering	American
penalise	penalize	British (non-Oxford)
oestradiol	estradiol	British
monetisation	monetization	British (non-Oxford)
patronise	patronize	British (non-Oxford)
standardize	standardise	British (Oxford)
rationalisation	rationalization	British (non-Oxford)
nationalization	nationalisation	British (Oxford)
synchronise	synchronize	British (non-Oxford)
personalise	personalize	British (non-Oxford)
centralisation	centralization	British (non-Oxford)
dishonourable	dishonorable	British
cataloging	cataloguing	American
flavourful	flavorful	British
harmonise	harmonize	British (non-Oxford)
fossilised	fossilized	British (non-Oxford)
paralyse	paralyze	British
radicalisation	radicalization	British (non-Oxford)
maneuverability	manoeuvrability	American
chamomile	camomile	American
clamour	clamor	British
weaponised	weaponized	British (non-Oxford)
fertilise	fertilize	British (non-Oxford)
womaniser	womanizer	British (non-Oxford)
haematoma	hematoma	British
demonise	demonize	British (non-Oxford)
etiology	aetiology	American
conceptualise	conceptualize	British (non-Oxford)
decriminalisation	decriminalization	British (non-Oxford)
demoralising	demoralizing	British (non-Oxford)
sympathiser	sympathizer	British (non-Oxford)
antagonise	antagonize	British (non-Oxford)
criminalise	criminalize	British (non-Oxford)
personalisation	personalization	British (non-Oxford)
initialisation	initialization	British (non-Oxford)
internationalisation	internationalization	British (non-Oxford)
privatise	privatize	British (non-Oxford)
internalise	internalize	British (non-Oxford)
draftsman	draughtsman	American
criminalisation	criminalization	British (non-Oxford)
journalling	journaling	British
unfavourably	unfavorably	British
hypothesise	hypothesize	British (non-Oxford)
discoloured	discolored	British
tricolor	tricolour	American
idolise	idolize	British (non-Oxford)
romanticised	romanticized	British (non-Oxford)
haem	heme	British and Commonwealth
vaporise	vaporize	British (non-Oxford)
distill	distil	American
travelog	travelogue	American
unionise	unionize	British (non-Oxford)
incentivise	incentivize	British (non-Oxford)
harmonisation	harmonization	British (non-Oxford)
popularize	popularise	British (Oxford)
strategise	strategize	British (non-Oxford)
initialise	initialize	British (non-Oxford)
humanise	humanize	British (non-Oxford)
sanitise	sanitize	British (non-Oxford)
centralise	centralize	British (non-Oxford)
exorcize	exorcise	American
hemophilia	haemophilia	American
commercialise	commercialize	British (non-Oxford)
nanometer	nanometre	American
marginalise	marginalize	British (non-Oxford)
secularisation	secularization	British (non-Oxford)
molt	moult	American
neighborly	neighbourly	American
quarreling	quarrelling	American
crystallise	crystallize	British (non-Oxford)
memorialise	memorialize	British (non-Oxford)
ardour	ardor	British and Commonwealth
tranquilliser	tranquilizer	British (non-Oxford)
institutionalisation	institutionalization	British (non-Oxford)
favourability	favorability	British (non-Oxford)
dehumanisation	dehumanization	British (non-Oxford)
demobilisation	demobilization	British (non-Oxford)
romanticise	romanticize	British (non-Oxford)
decriminalise	decriminalize	British (non-Oxford)
internalisation	internalization	British (non-Oxford)
nationalise	nationalize	British (non-Oxford)
digitise	digitize	British (non-Oxford)
mollusk	mollusc	American
evangelise	evangelize	British (non-Oxford)
amoxycillin	amoxicillin	British
oxidiser	oxidizer	British (non-Oxford)
vocalisation	vocalization	British (non-Oxford)
regularisation	regularization	British (non-Oxford)
polarise	polarize	British (non-Oxford)
aerie	eyrie	American
victimise	victimize	British (non-Oxford)
verbalise	verbalize	British (non-Oxford)
politicise	politicize	British (non-Oxford)
popularisation	popularization	British (non-Oxford)
stigmatise	stigmatize	British (non-Oxford)
unlabelled	unlabeled	British
euthanise	euthanize	British (non-Oxford)
demoralise	demoralize	British (non-Oxford)
accessorise	accessorize	British (non-Oxford)
vandalize	vandalise	British (Oxford)
discolour	discolor	British
weaponise	weaponize	British (non-Oxford)
westernisation	westernization	British (non-Oxford)
coloniser	colonizer	British (non-Oxford)
dehumanise	dehumanize	British (non-Oxford)
liberalise	liberalize	British (non-Oxford)
institutionalise	institutionalize	British (non-Oxford)
democratise	democratize	British (non-Oxford)
molder	moulder	American
pulverize	pulverise	British (Oxford)
compartmentalise	compartmentalize	British (non-Oxford)
plagiarise	plagiarize	British (non-Oxford)
traumatise	traumatize	British (non-Oxford)
trivialise	trivialize	British (non-Oxford)
polariser	polarizer	British (non-Oxford)
idealise	idealize	British (non-Oxford)
radicalise	radicalize	British (non-Oxford)
satirise	satirize	British and Commonwealth
civilisational	civilizational	British (non-Oxford)
pressurise	pressurize	British (non-Oxford)
actualise	actualize	British (non-Oxford)
vocalise	vocalize	British (non-Oxford)
civilize	civilise	British (Oxford)
anglicized	anglicised	British (Oxford)

Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Ordered by the more frequent spelling's written frequency (wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media)).