# compress vs compressor

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### compress
*verb · IPA /kəmˈpɹɛs/ · frequency rank #26,377*
To make smaller; to press or squeeze together, or to make something occupy a smaller space or volume.

### compressor
*noun · frequency rank #17,573*
A device that produces pressure, such as a gas compressor that produces pressurized gas.

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