# protect vs protector

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### protect
*verb · IPA /pɹəˈtɛkt/ · frequency rank #1,283*
To keep safe; to defend; to guard; to prevent harm coming to.

### protector
*noun · IPA /pɹəˈtɛktɚ/ · frequency rank #11,585*
Someone who protects or guards, by assignment or on their own initiative.

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