# goad

> English word · Noun · IPA /ɡəʊd/ · frequency rank #44,230

## Definitions
1. A long, pointed stick used to prod animals.
2. That which goads or incites; a stimulus.

## Etymology
From Middle English gode, from Old English gād (“goad”), from Proto-Germanic *gaidō (compare Old Norse gedda (“pike (fish)”), Lombardic gaida (“spear”)), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰey- (compare Old Irish gath (“spear”), Sanskrit हिन्वति (hinvati), हिनोति (hinoti, “to urge on, throw”), हेति (heti, “missile, projectile”)). Doublet of gad and yard; see also xyston.

## Easily confused with
- **got** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/goad-vs-got)
- **god** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/goad-vs-god)
- **GOP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/goad-vs-gop)
- **GTA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/goad-vs-gta)
- **GPA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/goad-vs-gpa)
- **goo** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/goad-vs-goo)
- **GSA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/goad-vs-gsa)
- **GOL** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/goad-vs-gol)
- **gob** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/goad-vs-gob)
- **gow** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/goad-vs-gow)
- **gor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/goad-vs-gor)
- **GoH** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/goad-vs-goh)
- **gog** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/goad-vs-gog)
- **good** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/goad-vs-good)
- **goes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/goad-vs-goes)
- **gold** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/goad-vs-gold)
- **gone** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/goad-vs-gone)
- **goal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/goad-vs-goal)
- **golf** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/goad-vs-golf)
- **grab** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/goad-vs-grab)

## Common misspellings (5)
`gaod`, `ggoad`, `goadd`, `goda`, `ogad`

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