# kabuki

> English word · Noun · IPA /kəˈbuːki/ · frequency rank #47,713

## Definitions
1. A form of Japanese theatre in which elaborately costumed male performers use stylized movements, dances, and songs in order to enact tragedies and comedies.
2. A stylized, pretentious, and often hollow performance; (especially) political posturing.

## Etymology
Borrowed from Japanese 歌舞伎 (kabuki).

## Easily confused with
- **Kabul** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kabuki-vs-kabul)
- **Kauai** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kabuki-vs-kauai)

## Common misspellings (8)
`akbuki`, `kabbuki`, `kabkui`, `kabuik`, `kabukki`, `kaubki`, `kbauki`, `kkabuki`

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