# marquess vs marquis

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### marquess
*noun · IPA /ˈmɑː.kwɪs/ · frequency rank #36,241*
A title of nobility for a man ranking beneath a duke and above an earl.

### marquis
*noun · IPA /ˈmɑː.kwɪs/ · frequency rank #16,073*
A nobleman in England, France, and Germany, of a rank next below that of duke, but above a count. Originally, the marquis was an officer whose duty was to guard the marches or frontiers of the kingdom. The office has ceased, and the name is now a mere title conferred by letters patent or letters close.

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