# ferret

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈfɛɹɪt/ · frequency rank #28,546

## Definitions
1. An often domesticated mammal (Mustela putorius furo) rather like a weasel, descended from the polecat and often trained to hunt burrowing animals.
2. A black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes).
3. A diligent searcher.

## Etymology
From Middle English furet, ferret, from Old French furet, from Vulgar Latin *furittum (“weasel, ferret”), diminutive of Latin fūr (“thief”).

## Easily confused with
- **fret** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ferret-vs-fret)
- **ferry** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ferret-vs-ferry)
- **forget** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ferret-vs-forget)
- **Ferris** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ferret-vs-ferris)
- **Forrest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ferret-vs-forrest)
- **fervent** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ferret-vs-fervent)
- **feet** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/feet-vs-ferret)
- **feared** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/feared-vs-ferret)
- **Ferrell** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ferrell-vs-ferret)
- **ferment** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ferment-vs-ferret)

## Common misspellings (7)
`efrret`, `ferert`, `feret`, `ferrett`, `ferrte`, `fferret`, `freret`

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