# likeness

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈlaɪknəs/ · frequency rank #18,608

## Definitions
1. The state or quality of being like or alike.
2. Appearance or form; guise.
3. That which closely resembles; a portrait.

## Etymology
From Middle English liknesse, from Old English līcness, ġelīcnes (“the quality of being like or equal; likeness; image; copy; pattern; example; parable”), from Proto-West Germanic *galīkanassī (“likeness”), equivalent to like + -ness.
Cognate with West Frisian likenis (“likeness”), Dutch gelijkenis (“similarity; likeness; parable”), German Low German Glieknis (“form; semblance; likeness; parable”), German Gleichnis (“form; semblance; image; likeness; parable; simile”). The verb is derived from the noun. Compare also Old Norse líkneskja (“figure, image, appearance, likeness”).

## Easily confused with
- **lioness** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/likeness-vs-lioness)
- **lifeless** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lifeless-vs-likeness)

## Common misspellings (10)
`ilkeness`, `liekness`, `likeenss`, `likenes`, `likenness`, `likenses`, `likkeness`, `likneess`, `lkieness`, `llikeness`

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