# gnome

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈnəʊ̯m/ · frequency rank #22,391

## Definitions
1. An elemental (spirit or corporeal creature associated with a classical element) associated with earth.
2. One of a race of imaginary human-like beings, usually depicted as short and typically bearded males, who inhabit the inner parts of the earth and act as guardians of mines, mineral treasure, etc.; in modern fantasy literature and games, when distinguished from dwarves, gnomes are usually smaller than dwarves and more focused on engineering than mining.
3. A person of a small stature or misshapen features, or of a strange appearance.
4. The mountain pygmy owl, Glaucidium gnoma, a small owl of the western United States.
5. A small statue of a dwarf-like character, often bearded, placed in a garden.
6. An upper atmospheric optical phenomenon associated with thunderstorms, a compact blue starter.
7. A banker, especially a secretive international one.

## Etymology
From French gnome (“gnome”), from New Latin gnomus, used by Paracelsus as a synonym for pygmaeus (“pygmy”).

## Easily confused with
- **gone** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gnome-vs-gone)
- **gore** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gnome-vs-gore)
- **gove** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gnome-vs-gove)
- **grove** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gnome-vs-grove)
- **goose** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gnome-vs-goose)
- **grime** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gnome-vs-grime)
- **goode** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gnome-vs-goode)
- **grope** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gnome-vs-grope)
- **game** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/game-vs-gnome)
- **globe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/globe-vs-gnome)
- **glove** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/glove-vs-gnome)
- **gimme** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gimme-vs-gnome)
- **genome** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/genome-vs-gnome)

## Common misspellings (7)
`ggnome`, `gnmoe`, `gnnome`, `gnoem`, `gnomme`, `gonme`, `ngome`

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