# strain vs strainer

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### strain
*noun · IPA /stɹeɪn/ · frequency rank #5,633*
Race; lineage, pedigree.

### strainer
*noun · IPA /ˈstɹeɪnɚ/ · frequency rank #45,103*
A device through which a liquid is passed for purification, filtering or separation from solid matter; anything (including a screen or a cloth) used to strain a liquid.

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