# forceps

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈfɔːsɛps/ · frequency rank #45,378

## Definitions
1. An instrument used in surgery or medical procedures for grasping and holding objects, similar to tongs or pincers.
2. A pair of appendages on the abdomen of some insects, such as earwigs, resembling the medical instrument.

## Etymology
Learned borrowing from Latin forceps.

## Easily confused with
- **forces** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/forceps-vs-forces)
- **force** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/force-vs-forceps)
- **forced** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/forced-vs-forceps)
- **Forbes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/forbes-vs-forceps)

## Common misspellings (11)
`fforceps`, `focreps`, `forcceps`, `forcepps`, `forcepss`, `forcesp`, `forcpes`, `forecps`, `forrceps`, `froceps`, `ofrceps`

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