# backs vs bates

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### backs
*noun · IPA /bæks/ · frequency rank #6,025*
plural of back

### bates
*verb · IPA /beɪts/ · frequency rank #12,189*
third-person singular simple present indicative of bate

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/backs-vs-bates