# rack vs rail

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### rack
*noun · IPA /ɹæk/ · frequency rank #8,336*
A series of one or more shelves, stacked one above the other.

### rail
*noun · IPA /ɹeɪ(ə)l/ · frequency rank #3,579*
A horizontal bar extending between supports and used for support or as a barrier; a railing.

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