# equator

> English word · Noun · IPA /ɪˈkweɪ.tə/ · frequency rank #20,625

## Definitions
1. An imaginary great circle around Earth, equidistant from the two poles, and dividing earth's surface into the northern and southern hemispheres.
2. A similar great circle on any sphere, especially on a celestial body, or on another reasonably symmetrical three-dimensional body.
3. The midline of any generally spherical object, such as a fruit or vegetable, that has identifiable poles.
4. The celestial equator.

## Etymology
From Late Latin (circulus) aequator (diei et noctis).

## Easily confused with
- **equate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/equate-vs-equator)
- **Ecuador** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ecuador-vs-equator)
- **equated** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/equated-vs-equator)
- **equation** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/equation-vs-equator)
- **educator** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/educator-vs-equator)
- **emulator** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/emulator-vs-equator)

## Common misspellings (9)
`eqautor`, `eqquator`, `equaotr`, `equatorr`, `equatro`, `equattor`, `equtaor`, `euqator`, `qeuator`

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