# dongle

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈdɒŋɡl̩/ · frequency rank #45,892

## Definitions
1. Any small device that plugs into an electronic device, typically a computer, and alters its functionality. Common examples include wireless modems, digital media players, software copy protect devices, and adapters.
2. A hardware device used by a specific application for purposes of copy protection.

## Etymology
Unknown. Likely a descendant of dangle, reflecting that electronic accessories such as computer peripherals often are plugged in via a flexible cable (although wirelessness is also often relevant). Claims that the word comes from a man named "Don Gall" were made up by an advertisement. First usage 1980-1985.

## Easily confused with
- **Doyle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dongle-vs-doyle)
- **Donne** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dongle-vs-donne)
- **double** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dongle-vs-double)
- **Donnie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dongle-vs-donnie)
- **doodle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dongle-vs-doodle)
- **Dougie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dongle-vs-dougie)
- **done** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/done-vs-dongle)
- **dong** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dong-vs-dongle)
- **dole** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dole-vs-dongle)
- **doge** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/doge-vs-dongle)
- **dodge** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dodge-vs-dongle)
- **Donald** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/donald-vs-dongle)
- **donate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/donate-vs-dongle)
- **doable** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/doable-vs-dongle)
- **doggie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/doggie-vs-dongle)
- **dengue** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dengue-vs-dongle)
- **docile** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/docile-vs-dongle)
- **dangle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dangle-vs-dongle)
- **dingle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dingle-vs-dongle)

## Common misspellings (9)
`ddongle`, `dnogle`, `dognle`, `dongel`, `donggle`, `donglle`, `donlge`, `donngle`, `odngle`

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