# catheter

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈkæθɪtə(ɹ)/ · frequency rank #21,156

## Definitions
1. A small tube inserted into a body cavity to administer a drug, create an opening, distend a passageway, or remove fluid.

## Etymology
Borrowed from French cathéter, from Late Latin cathetēr, from Ancient Greek καθετήρ (kathetḗr, “surgical instrument for emptying the bladder”), from καθίημι (kathíēmi, “to descend, let down”) + -τήρ (-tḗr, suffix forming masculine nouns from verbs).

## Easily confused with
- **caterer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/caterer-vs-catheter)

## Common misspellings (12)
`actheter`, `cahteter`, `catehter`, `catheetr`, `catheterr`, `cathetre`, `cathetter`, `cathheter`, `cathteer`, `cattheter`, `ccatheter`, `ctaheter`

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