# hocus

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈhəʊkəs/ · frequency rank #48,804

## Definitions
1. To play a trick on, to trick (someone); to hoax; to cheat.
2. To stupefy (someone) with drugged liquor (especially in order to steal from them).
3. To drug (liquor).
4. To adulterate (food).

## Etymology
Shortened from hocus-pocus. The verb is from the noun.

## Easily confused with
- **Hou** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hocus-vs-hou)
- **hos** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hocus-vs-hos)
- **Hus** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hocus-vs-hus)
- **hour** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hocus-vs-hour)
- **Homs** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hocus-vs-homs)
- **hots** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hocus-vs-hots)
- **hows** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hocus-vs-hows)
- **hoss** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hocus-vs-hoss)
- **house** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hocus-vs-house)
- **hours** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hocus-vs-hours)
- **homes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hocus-vs-homes)
- **holds** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hocus-vs-holds)
- **hopes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hocus-vs-hopes)
- **holes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hocus-vs-holes)
- **hosts** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hocus-vs-hosts)
- **how's** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hocus-vs-how-s)
- **horns** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hocus-vs-horns)
- **hooks** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hocus-vs-hooks)
- **hoops** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hocus-vs-hoops)
- **hoods** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hocus-vs-hoods)

## Common misspellings (7)
`hcous`, `hhocus`, `hoccus`, `hocsu`, `hocuss`, `houcs`, `ohcus`

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