# desert

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈdɛz.ət/ · frequency rank #3,620

## Definitions
1. A barren area of land or desolate terrain, especially one with little water or vegetation; a wasteland.
2. A barren area of land or desolate terrain, especially one with little water or vegetation; a wasteland.
3. Any barren place or situation.

## Etymology
From Middle English desert (“wilderness”), from Old French desert, from Latin dēsertum, past participle of dēserō (“to abandon”). Generally displaced native Old English wēsten. False cognate of Egyptian dšrt.

## Easily confused with
- **deter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/desert-vs-deter)
- **desire** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/desert-vs-desire)
- **detect** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/desert-vs-detect)
- **divert** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/desert-vs-divert)
- **desist** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/desert-vs-desist)
- **detest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/desert-vs-detest)
- **despot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/desert-vs-despot)
- **deserve** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/desert-vs-deserve)
- **dessert** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/desert-vs-dessert)
- **deserts** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/desert-vs-deserts)
- **deserted** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/desert-vs-deserted)
- **deserter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/desert-vs-deserter)
- **deer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/deer-vs-desert)
- **defer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/defer-vs-desert)
- **defeat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/defeat-vs-desert)
- **decent** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/decent-vs-desert)
- **defect** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/defect-vs-desert)
- **depart** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/depart-vs-desert)
- **deceit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/deceit-vs-desert)
- **deport** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/deport-vs-desert)

## Common misspellings (8)
`ddesert`, `deesrt`, `deserrt`, `desertt`, `desetr`, `desret`, `dseert`, `edsert`

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