# intent

> English word · Noun · IPA /ɪnˈtɛnt/ · frequency rank #4,457

## Definitions
1. Something that is intended.
2. The state of someone’s mind at the time of committing an offence.

## Etymology
Existing since Middle English entente, from Old French entent or entente, ultimately from Latin intentus. Modified later in spelling to align more closely with the Latin word. Compare intention.

## Easily confused with
- **invest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/intent-vs-invest)
- **intern** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/intent-vs-intern)
- **invent** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/intent-vs-invent)
- **invert** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/intent-vs-invert)
- **internet** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/intent-vs-internet)
- **intently** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/intent-vs-intently)
- **intel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/intel-vs-intent)
- **inlet** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/inlet-vs-intent)
- **inept** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/inept-vs-intent)
- **inert** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/inert-vs-intent)
- **inset** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/inset-vs-intent)
- **intend** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/intend-vs-intent)
- **insert** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/insert-vs-intent)
- **infant** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/infant-vs-intent)
- **intact** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/intact-vs-intent)
- **insect** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/insect-vs-intent)
- **inject** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/inject-vs-intent)
- **incest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/incest-vs-intent)
- **infect** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/infect-vs-intent)
- **ingest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ingest-vs-intent)

## Common misspellings (9)
`inetnt`, `inntent`, `intennt`, `intentt`, `intetn`, `intnet`, `inttent`, `itnent`, `nitent`

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