# coarse

> English word · Adjective · IPA /kɔːs/ · frequency rank #16,865

## Definitions
1. With a rough texture; not smooth.
2. Composed of large particles.
3. Lacking refinement, taste or delicacy.
4. Unrefined.
5. Of inferior quality.

## Etymology
Adjectival use of course that diverged in spelling in the 18th century. The sense developed from '(following) the usual course' (cf. of course) to 'ordinary, common' to 'lacking refinement', with 'not fine, granular' arising from its application to cloth. Compare the development of mean.

## Easily confused with
- **core** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/coarse-vs-core)
- **coast** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/coarse-vs-coast)
- **curse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/coarse-vs-curse)
- **coats** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/coarse-vs-coats)
- **Coors** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/coarse-vs-coors)
- **Corso** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/coarse-vs-corso)
- **cours** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/coarse-vs-cours)
- **course** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/coarse-vs-course)
- **corpse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/coarse-vs-corpse)
- **corset** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/coarse-vs-corset)
- **coerce** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/coarse-vs-coerce)
- **corrie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/coarse-vs-corrie)
- **courses** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/coarse-vs-courses)
- **care** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/care-vs-coarse)
- **case** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/case-vs-coarse)
- **cars** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cars-vs-coarse)
- **cause** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cause-vs-coarse)
- **chase** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chase-vs-coarse)
- **cease** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cease-vs-coarse)
- **Clare** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/clare-vs-coarse)

## Common misspellings (8)
`caorse`, `ccoarse`, `coares`, `coarrse`, `coarsse`, `coasre`, `corase`, `ocarse`

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