# sans vs span

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### sans
*preposition · IPA /sænz/ · frequency rank #13,416*
Without; lacking, especially with regard to something expected or with precedent

### span
*noun · IPA /spæn/ · frequency rank #6,416*
The full width of an open hand from the end of the thumb to the end of the little finger used as an informal unit of length.

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