# flicker

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈflɪkə/ · frequency rank #25,386

## Definitions
1. An unsteady flash of light.
2. A short moment.

## Etymology
From Middle English flikeren (“to flutter”), from Old English flicerian, flicorian (“to flutter”), from Proto-West Germanic *flikurōn.
Akin to Saterland Frisian flikkerje (“to flicker”),
West Frisian flikkerje (“to flicker”), Dutch flikkeren (“to flicker, flutter”), German Low German flickern (“to light up, flash, flicker”). Compare Old English flacor (“flickering, fluttering”), German flackern (“to flicker, flutter”), Old English flēogan (“to fly”).

## Easily confused with
- **flier** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flicker-vs-flier)
- **fucker** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flicker-vs-fucker)
- **Flickr** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flicker-vs-flickr)
- **flicks** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flicker-vs-flicks)
- **flocked** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flicker-vs-flocked)
- **flipper** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flicker-vs-flipper)
- **flick** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flick-vs-flicker)
- **flicked** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flicked-vs-flicker)
- **flanker** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flanker-vs-flicker)

## Common misspellings (11)
`fflicker`, `filcker`, `flciker`, `fliccker`, `flicekr`, `flickerr`, `flickker`, `flickre`, `flikcer`, `fllicker`, `lficker`

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