# ester

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈɛstɚ/ · frequency rank #26,780

## Definitions
1. A compound most often formed by the condensation of an alcohol and an acid, with elimination of water, which contains the functional group carbon-oxygen double bond (i.e., carbonyl) joined via carbon to another oxygen atom.

## Etymology
From German Ester, perhaps a contraction or abstraction of Essigäther (“ethyl acetate”), from Essig (“vinegar”) (from Latin acetum) and Äther (“ether”). See ether for more.

## Easily confused with
- **ever** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ester-vs-ever)
- **ether** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ester-vs-ether)
- **Estes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ester-vs-estes)
- **Euler** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ester-vs-euler)
- **Esther** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ester-vs-esther)
- **Exeter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ester-vs-exeter)
- **est** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/est-vs-ester)
- **ese** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ese-vs-ester)
- **esse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/esse-vs-ester)
- **Esme** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/esme-vs-ester)
- **enter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/enter-vs-ester)
- **eaten** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/eaten-vs-ester)
- **elder** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elder-vs-ester)
- **eager** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/eager-vs-ester)
- **Essex** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/essex-vs-ester)
- **eater** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/eater-vs-ester)
- **Elmer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elmer-vs-ester)
- **ember** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ember-vs-ester)
- **ender** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ender-vs-ester)
- **Essen** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/essen-vs-ester)

## Common misspellings (6)
`esetr`, `esster`, `esterr`, `estre`, `estter`, `etser`

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