# funnel

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈfʌnəl/ · frequency rank #15,618

## Definitions
1. A utensil in the shape of an inverted hollow cone terminating in a narrow pipe, for channeling liquids or granular material; typically used when transferring said substances from any container into ones with a significantly smaller opening.
2. A passage or avenue for a fluid or flowing substance; specifically, a smoke flue or pipe; the chimney of a steamship or the like.
3. Ellipsis of purchase funnel (“the process of customer acquisition conceptualized as a series of stages, from initial awareness (top) to sale or conversion (bottom)”).
4. Ellipsis of funnel cloud.

## Etymology
From Middle English funell, fonel, probably through Old French *founel (compare Middle French fonel, Old Occitan fonilh, enfounilh), from Latin fundibulum, infundibulum (“funnel”), from infundere (“to pour in”);
in (“in”) + fundere (“to pour”); compare Breton founilh (“funnel”), Welsh ffynel (“air hole, chimney”). See fuse.

## Easily confused with
- **funny** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/funnel-vs-funny)
- **funnier** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/funnel-vs-funnier)
- **funnily** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/funnel-vs-funnily)
- **fuel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fuel-vs-funnel)
- **funded** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/funded-vs-funnel)
- **fungal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fungal-vs-funnel)
- **fennel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fennel-vs-funnel)
- **Finney** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/finney-vs-funnel)
- **fanned** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fanned-vs-funnel)
- **flannel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flannel-vs-funnel)

## Common misspellings (7)
`ffunnel`, `fnunel`, `funel`, `funenl`, `funnell`, `funnle`, `ufnnel`

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