# jest

> English word · Noun · IPA /d͡ʒɛst/ · frequency rank #26,849

## Definitions
1. An act performed for amusement; a joke.
2. Someone or something that is ridiculed; the target of a joke.
3. A deed; an action; a gest.
4. A mask; a pageant; an interlude.

## Etymology
From Middle English geste (“idle tale”), from Old French geste (“acts, exploits”), from Latin gesta (“acts, deeds”). Doublet of gest.

## Easily confused with
- **jet** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jest-vs-jet)
- **Jew** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jest-vs-jew)
- **jus** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jest-vs-jus)
- **jot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jest-vs-jot)
- **JIT** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jest-vs-jit)
- **just** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jest-vs-just)
- **Jews** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jest-vs-jews)
- **Josh** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jest-vs-josh)
- **Jose** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jest-vs-jose)
- **jets** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jest-vs-jets)
- **joss** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jest-vs-joss)
- **jolt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jest-vs-jolt)
- **Jesus** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jest-vs-jesus)
- **jetty** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jest-vs-jetty)
- **Jesuit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jest-vs-jesuit)
- **jester** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jest-vs-jester)
- **Jen** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jen-vs-jest)
- **Jeb** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jeb-vs-jest)
- **Jed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jed-vs-jest)
- **Jas** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jas-vs-jest)

## Common misspellings (5)
`ejst`, `jesst`, `jestt`, `jjest`, `jset`

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