# gown

> English word · Noun · IPA /ɡaʊn/ · frequency rank #10,375

## Definitions
1. A loose, flowing upper garment.
2. A woman's ordinary outer dress, such as a calico or silk gown.
3. The official robe of certain professionals, clerics, and scholars, such as university students and officers, barristers, judges, etc.
4. The official robe of certain professionals, clerics, and scholars, such as university students and officers, barristers, judges, etc.
5. The university community, especially as contrasted with the local populace.
6. A loose wrapper worn by gentlemen within doors; a dressing gown.
7. Any sort of dress or garb.
8. The robe worn by a surgeon.

## Etymology
From Middle English gowne, from Anglo-Norman goune, gune (“fur-trimmed coat, pelisse”), from Old French goune, from Late Latin gunna (“leather garment, a fur”). Cognate with Manx gooyn, Irish gúna.

## Easily confused with
- **gun** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gown-vs-gun)
- **GYN** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gown-vs-gyn)
- **grow** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gown-vs-grow)
- **grin** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gown-vs-grin)
- **Gwen** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gown-vs-gwen)
- **gran** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gown-vs-gran)
- **Gunn** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gown-vs-gunn)
- **guan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gown-vs-guan)
- **goya** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gown-vs-goya)
- **Gwyn** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gown-vs-gwyn)
- **grown** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gown-vs-grown)
- **grows** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gown-vs-grows)
- **groin** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gown-vs-groin)
- **gowns** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gown-vs-gowns)
- **growl** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gown-vs-growl)
- **groan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gown-vs-groan)
- **go** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/go-vs-gown)
- **got** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/got-vs-gown)
- **god** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/god-vs-gown)
- **GOP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gop-vs-gown)

## Common misspellings (6)
`ggown`, `gonw`, `gownn`, `gowwn`, `gwon`, `ogwn`

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