# contempt

> English word · Noun · IPA /kənˈtɛmpt/ · frequency rank #10,520

## Definitions
1. The state or act of contemning; the feeling or attitude of regarding someone or something as inferior, base, or worthless; scorn, disdain.
2. The state of being despised or dishonored; disgrace.
3. Open disrespect or willful disobedience of the authority of a court of law or legislative body.
4. Ellipsis of contempt factor.

## Etymology
From Latin contemptus (“scorn”), from contemnō (“I scorn, despise”), from com- + temnō (“I despise”). Displaced native Old English forsewennes.

## Easily confused with
- **content** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/contempt-vs-content)
- **context** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/contempt-vs-context)
- **contest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/contempt-vs-contest)
- **concept** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/concept-vs-contempt)

## Common misspellings (13)
`ccontempt`, `cnotempt`, `conetmpt`, `conntempt`, `contemmpt`, `contemppt`, `contemptt`, `contemtp`, `contepmt`, `contmept`, `conttempt`, `cotnempt`, `ocntempt`

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