# homage vs hostage

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### homage
*noun · IPA /ˈhɒmɪd͡ʒ/ · frequency rank #12,788*
A demonstration of respect, as towards a person after his or her retirement or death.

### hostage
*noun · IPA /ˈhɒs.tɪd͡ʒ/ · frequency rank #8,301*
A person given as a pledge or security for the performance of the conditions of a treaty or similar agreement, such as to ensure the status of a vassal.

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