# cliff

> English word · Noun · IPA /klɪf/ · frequency rank #6,037

## Definitions
1. A vertical (or nearly vertical) rock face.
2. A point beyond which something abruptly fails or decreases in value, performance, etc.

## Etymology
From Middle English clyf, from Old English clif, from Proto-West Germanic *klib, from Proto-Germanic *klibą.

## Easily confused with
- **clip** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cliff-vs-clip)
- **cuff** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cliff-vs-cuff)
- **clit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cliff-vs-clit)
- **Clio** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cliff-vs-clio)
- **climb** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cliff-vs-climb)
- **clips** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cliff-vs-clips)
- **Clive** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cliff-vs-clive)
- **Clint** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cliff-vs-clint)
- **cling** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cliff-vs-cling)
- **clink** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cliff-vs-clink)
- **cliffs** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cliff-vs-cliffs)
- **CIF** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cif-vs-cliff)
- **chief** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chief-vs-cliff)
- **click** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/click-vs-cliff)
- **cleft** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cleft-vs-cliff)
- **chaff** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chaff-vs-cliff)

## Common misspellings (6)
`ccliff`, `cilff`, `clfif`, `clif`, `clliff`, `lciff`

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