# pole vs police

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### pole
*noun · IPA /pəʊl/ · frequency rank #4,879*
Originally, a stick; now specifically, a long and slender piece of metal or (especially) wood, used for various construction or support purposes.

### police
*noun · IPA /pəˈliːs/ · frequency rank #471*
A constituted body of officers representing the civil authority of government, empowered to maintain public order and safety, enforce the law, and prevent, detect, and investigate crime.

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