# clash

> English word · Noun · IPA /klaʃ/ · frequency rank #7,430

## Definitions
1. A loud sound, like the crashing together of metal objects; a crash.
2. A skirmish, a hostile encounter.
3. match; a game between two sides.
4. An angry argument.
5. Opposition; contradiction; such as between differing or contending interests, views, purposes etc.
6. A combination of garments that do not look good together, especially because of conflicting colours.
7. An instance of restarting the game after a "dead ball", where it is dropped between two opposing players, who can fight for possession.
8. Chatter; gossip; idle talk.
9. A heavy fall (of rain); heavy rain.

## Etymology
Of onomatopoeic origin. Compare Saterland Frisian klatskje (“to smack, slap”), West Frisian kletse, kletskje, Dutch kletsen (“to smack, slap, clash”), German Low German klattsen, klatsken (“to smack, splash”), German klatschen (“to clap, smack, slap”) and Klatsch (“a clapping sound; the din resulting from two or more things colliding”), Danish klaske (“to clash, splatter”).

## Easily confused with
- **clay** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/clash-vs-clay)
- **claw** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/clash-vs-claw)
- **Clos** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/clash-vs-clos)
- **class** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/clash-vs-class)
- **close** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/clash-vs-close)
- **coach** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/clash-vs-coach)
- **coast** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/clash-vs-coast)
- **crash** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/clash-vs-crash)
- **crush** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/clash-vs-crush)
- **cloth** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/clash-vs-cloth)
- **claws** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/clash-vs-claws)
- **Claus** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/clash-vs-claus)
- **clasp** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/clash-vs-clasp)
- **crass** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/clash-vs-crass)
- **clays** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/clash-vs-clays)
- **clause** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/clash-vs-clause)
- **classy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/clash-vs-classy)
- **cas** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cas-vs-clash)
- **case** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/case-vs-clash)
- **cash** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cash-vs-clash)

## Common misspellings (8)
`calsh`, `cclash`, `clahs`, `clashh`, `classh`, `cllash`, `clsah`, `lcash`

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