# imperative vs iterative

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### imperative
*adjective · IPA /ɪmˈpɛɹ.ə.tɪv/ · frequency rank #11,901*
Essential; crucial; extremely important.

### iterative
*adjective · IPA /ˈɪt(ə)ɹətɪv/ · frequency rank #34,550*
Of a procedure that involves repetition of steps (iteration) to achieve the desired outcome; in computing this may involve a mechanism such as a loop.

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