# lock vs lockup

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### lock
*noun · IPA /lɒk/ · frequency rank #2,954*
Something used for fastening, which can only be opened with a key or combination.

### lockup
*noun · frequency rank #49,465*
A jail cell; a period of incarceration in such a cell; a facility containing such cells.

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