# motif vs motion

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### motif
*noun · IPA /moʊˈtiːf/ · frequency rank #17,188*
A recurring or dominant element; an artistic theme.

### motion
*noun · IPA /ˈməʊ.ʃən/ · frequency rank #2,545*
A change whereby something goes from one place to another; a state of progression from one place to another; a change of position with respect to time.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-09-03.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/motif-vs-motion