Which to use
“scoff” is a noun and “scorn” is a verb - they look or sound alike but fill different roles in a sentence.
- #38,151
- “scoff” frequency rank
- #24,584
- “scorn” frequency rank
- 62735
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | scoff | scorn |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | A derisive or mocking expression of scorn, contempt, or reproach. | To feel or display contempt or disdain for something or somebody; to despise. |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set scoff and scorn apart are highlighted. They share 3 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
These two trip readers on the page rather than in the ear: scoff is /skɒf/ while scorn is /skɔːn/. Spoken aloud the problem disappears. In writing it persists, because they share most of their letters but differ in 2 positions, and the parts of speech differ too (noun vs verb), which is usually the fastest check. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 62735, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
scoff is recorded at frequency rank #38,151, classified as anoun, pronounced /skɒf/. scorn is at rank #24,584, tagged as averb, pronounced /skɔːn/.
Glosses for this pair are partially populated in our dataset, but the full side-by-side definitions above should still guide you to the right choice.
With a confusion score of 62735, this pair ranks #86,803 of 530,003 scored English confusable pairs - among the most confusable pairs.
Orthographic DNA of scoff vs scorn
Shared letters: cos. Private to "scoff": f. Private to "scorn": nr.
"scoff" · 5 letters · shape CCVCC · "scorn" · 5 letters · shape CCVCC
Known mistypes of this pair
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "scoff" and "scorn" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "scoff" or "scorn"?
Remembering scoff vs scorn
The fastest way to pick the right one every time.
- Check the role first: if you need a noun, it's “scoff”; for a verb, it's “scorn”.
- See each word in full, definition, IPA, etymology and its other confusables. Full “scoff” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable