# pointer vs pointy

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### pointer
*noun · IPA /ˈpɔɪn.tə/ · frequency rank #12,657*
Anything that points or is used for pointing.

### pointy
*adjective · IPA /ˈpɔɪnti/ · frequency rank #25,175*
Pointed in shape; having a point or points.

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