# acne

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈækni/ · frequency rank #11,830

## Definitions
1. A skin condition, usually of the face, that is common in adolescents. It is characterised by red pimples, and is caused by the inflammation of sebaceous glands through bacterial infection.
2. A pattern of blemishes in an area of skin resulting from the skin condition.

## Etymology
From New Latin acnē, probably a corruption of Ancient Greek ἀκμή (akmḗ, “point, top”).

## Easily confused with
- **an** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/acne-vs-an)
- **AE** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/acne-vs-ae)
- **and** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/acne-vs-and)
- **are** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/acne-vs-are)
- **any** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/acne-vs-any)
- **age** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/acne-vs-age)
- **ACT** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/acne-vs-act)
- **Ann** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/acne-vs-ann)
- **ate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/acne-vs-ate)
- **ave** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/acne-vs-ave)
- **ana** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/acne-vs-ana)
- **aye** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/acne-vs-aye)
- **ant** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/acne-vs-ant)
- **awe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/acne-vs-awe)
- **axe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/acne-vs-axe)
- **ale** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/acne-vs-ale)
- **Ang** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/acne-vs-ang)
- **ape** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/acne-vs-ape)
- **ain** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/acne-vs-ain)
- **ANC** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/acne-vs-anc)

## Common misspellings (4)
`accne`, `acen`, `acnne`, `ance`

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