# afoul

> English word · Adverb · IPA /əˈfaʊl/ · frequency rank #45,192

## Definitions
1. In a state of collision or entanglement.
2. In a state of entanglement or conflict (with).

## Etymology
From a- + foul.

## Easily confused with
- **AOL** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/afoul-vs-aol)
- **AWOL** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/afoul-vs-awol)
- **awful** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/afoul-vs-awful)
- **aloud** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/afoul-vs-aloud)
- **amour** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/afoul-vs-amour)
- **atoll** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/afoul-vs-atoll)
- **AFL** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/afl-vs-afoul)
- **about** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/about-vs-afoul)
- **Abdul** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/abdul-vs-afoul)
- **afoot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/afoot-vs-afoul)

## Common misspellings (6)
`affoul`, `afolu`, `afoull`, `afuol`, `aoful`, `faoul`

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