# falter

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈfɒltə/ · frequency rank #36,137

## Definitions
1. An unsteadiness.

## Etymology
From Middle English falteren (“to stagger; be unsteady, tremble, quiver; to stammer; be entangled, get caught”), further origin unknown. Probably from a North Germanic source such as Old Norse faltrask (“to hesitate, be puzzled, be encumbered”). May also be a frequentative of fold, although the change from d to t is unusual.

## Easily confused with
- **fate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/falter-vs-fate)
- **flyer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/falter-vs-flyer)
- **fated** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/falter-vs-fated)
- **Fates** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/falter-vs-fates)
- **flier** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/falter-vs-flier)
- **father** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/falter-vs-father)
- **faster** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/falter-vs-faster)
- **foster** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/falter-vs-foster)
- **filter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/falter-vs-filter)
- **farmer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/falter-vs-farmer)
- **fuller** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/falter-vs-fuller)
- **folder** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/falter-vs-folder)
- **filler** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/falter-vs-filler)
- **footer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/falter-vs-footer)
- **fatter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/falter-vs-fatter)
- **fitter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/falter-vs-fitter)
- **fasten** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/falter-vs-fasten)
- **fester** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/falter-vs-fester)
- **feller** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/falter-vs-feller)
- **Farber** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/falter-vs-farber)

## Common misspellings (7)
`aflter`, `faletr`, `fallter`, `falterr`, `faltre`, `fatler`, `ffalter`

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