# flinch

> English word · Noun · IPA /flɪnt͡ʃ/ · frequency rank #31,990

## Definitions
1. A reflexive jerking away.
2. The slipping of the foot from a ball, when attempting to give a tight croquet.

## Etymology
From Middle French flenchir (“to bend”), of Germanic origin. Compare Middle High German lenken (“to bend”). Attested in English since the 16th century.

## Easily confused with
- **flint** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flinch-vs-flint)
- **fling** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flinch-vs-fling)
- **French** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flinch-vs-french)
- **flick** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flick-vs-flinch)
- **finch** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/finch-vs-flinch)
- **fitch** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fitch-vs-flinch)

## Common misspellings (10)
`fflinch`, `filnch`, `flicnh`, `flincch`, `flinchh`, `flinhc`, `flinnch`, `fllinch`, `flnich`, `lfinch`

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