# batter

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈbætə/ · frequency rank #13,666

## Definitions
1. To hit or strike violently and repeatedly.
2. To coat with batter (the food ingredient).
3. To defeat soundly; to thrash.
4. To intoxicate.
5. To flatten (metal) by hammering, so as to compress it inwardly and spread it outwardly.
6. To coat in a paste-like substance; to fasten with a paste-like glue.

## Etymology
From Middle English batteren, batren, bateren, a frequentative of Middle English batten, baten (“to beat”), equivalent to bat + -er (frequentative suffix).

## Easily confused with
- **Bauer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/batter-vs-bauer)
- **Bayer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/batter-vs-bayer)
- **Bette** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/batter-vs-bette)
- **butte** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/batter-vs-butte)
- **batty** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/batter-vs-batty)
- **biter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/batter-vs-biter)
- **better** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/batter-vs-better)
- **battle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/batter-vs-battle)
- **butter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/batter-vs-butter)
- **bother** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/batter-vs-bother)
- **bitter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/batter-vs-bitter)
- **butler** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/batter-vs-butler)
- **Baxter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/batter-vs-baxter)
- **bitten** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/batter-vs-bitten)
- **buster** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/batter-vs-buster)
- **beater** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/batter-vs-beater)
- **butted** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/batter-vs-butted)
- **battery** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/batter-vs-battery)
- **battles** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/batter-vs-battles)
- **battled** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/batter-vs-battled)

## Common misspellings (7)
`abtter`, `bater`, `batetr`, `batterr`, `battre`, `bbatter`, `btater`

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