# detergent

> English word · Noun · IPA /dɪˈtɜːdʒənt/ · frequency rank #22,350

## Definitions
1. Any non-soap cleaning agent, especially a synthetic surfactant.

## Etymology
From French détergent, from Latin dētergēns, the present participle of dētergeō, from dē (“off”) + tergeō (“wipe, polish”).

## Easily confused with
- **divergent** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/detergent-vs-divergent)
- **deterrent** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/detergent-vs-deterrent)

## Common misspellings (14)
`ddetergent`, `deetrgent`, `detegrent`, `deteregnt`, `detergennt`, `detergentt`, `detergetn`, `deterggent`, `detergnet`, `deterrgent`, `detregent`, `dettergent`, `dteergent`, `edtergent`

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