# lead vs loan

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### lead
*noun · IPA /lɛd/ · frequency rank #636*
A heavy, pliable, inelastic metal element, having a bright, bluish color, but easily tarnished; both malleable and ductile, though with little tenacity. It is easily fusible, forms alloys with other metals, and is an ingredient of solder and type metal. Atomic number 82, symbol Pb (from Latin plumbum).

### loan
*noun · IPA /ləʊn/ · frequency rank #2,118*
An act or instance of lending, an act or instance of granting something for temporary use.

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