# recessive vs regressive

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### recessive
*adjective · IPA /ɹɪˈsɛsɪv/ · frequency rank #32,553*
Going back; receding.

### regressive
*adjective · frequency rank #30,563*
That tends to return, revert or regress.

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