# debut

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈdɛbjuː/ · frequency rank #2,885

## Definitions
1. A performer's first performance to the public, in sport, the arts or some other area.
2. The first public presentation of a theatrical play, motion picture, opera, musical composition, dance, or other performing arts piece.
3. The first appearance of a debutante in society.
4. The coming-of-age celebration of a woman's eighteenth birthday.

## Etymology
From French début, from Middle French, derivative of débuter (“to move, begin”), from dé- + but (“mark, goal”), from Old French but (“aim, goal, end, target”), from Old French butte (“mound, knoll, target”), from Frankish *but (“stump, log”), or from Old Norse bútr (“log, stump, butt”); both from Proto-Germanic *butą (“end, piece”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰewd- (“to beat, push”). Cognate with Old English butt (“tree stump”). More at butt. The Philippine sense is influenced by Spanish debut.

## Easily confused with
- **dent** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debut-vs-dent)
- **deft** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debut-vs-deft)
- **depot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debut-vs-depot)
- **donut** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debut-vs-donut)
- **delft** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debut-vs-delft)
- **deputy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debut-vs-deputy)
- **debuts** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debut-vs-debuts)
- **devout** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debut-vs-devout)
- **deduct** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debut-vs-deduct)
- **debuted** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debut-vs-debuted)
- **deb** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/deb-vs-debut)
- **debt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debt-vs-debut)
- **debs** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debs-vs-debut)
- **dealt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dealt-vs-debut)
- **debts** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debts-vs-debut)
- **debit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debit-vs-debut)
- **Debra** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debra-vs-debut)
- **debug** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debug-vs-debut)
- **Debby** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debby-vs-debut)
- **debate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debate-vs-debut)

## Common misspellings (7)
`dbeut`, `ddebut`, `debbut`, `debtu`, `debutt`, `deubt`, `edbut`

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