# exercise

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈɛk.sə.saɪz/ · frequency rank #2,109

## Definitions
1. Any activity designed to develop or hone a skill or ability.
2. Activity intended to improve physical, or sometimes mental, strength and fitness.
3. A setting in action or practicing; employment in the proper mode of activity; exertion; application; use.
4. The performance of an office, ceremony, or duty.
5. That which gives practice; a trial; a test.

## Etymology
From Middle English exercise, from Old French exercise, from Latin exercitium.

## Easily confused with
- **exorcist** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/exercise-vs-exorcist)
- **exorcism** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/exercise-vs-exorcism)
- **exercises** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/exercise-vs-exercises)
- **expertise** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/exercise-vs-expertise)
- **exercised** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/exercise-vs-exercised)
- **excise** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/excise-vs-exercise)

## Common misspellings (11)
`eexrcise`, `execrise`, `exerccise`, `exercies`, `exercisse`, `exercsie`, `exericse`, `exerrcise`, `exrecise`, `exxercise`, `xeercise`

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