# main

> English word · Adjective · IPA /meɪn/ · frequency rank #574

## Definitions
1. Of chief or leading importance; prime, principal.
2. Chief, most important, or principal in extent, size, or strength; consisting of the largest part.
3. Full, sheer, undivided.
4. Big; angry.
5. Belonging to or connected with the principal mast in a vessel.
6. Great in size or degree; important, powerful, strong, vast.

## Etymology
From Middle English mayn, main, maine, mæin, meyn, from main (noun) (see further at etymology 2); compare Old English mæġen (“strong, main, principal”) (used in combination) and Old Norse megn, megenn (“strong, main”).
The word is cognate with Old High German megīn (“strong, mighty”) (modern German Möge, Vermögen (“power, wealth”)), and also akin to Old English magan (“to be able to”). See also may.

## Easily confused with
- **mi** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/main-vs-mi)
- **MN** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/main-vs-mn)
- **may** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/main-vs-may)
- **man** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/main-vs-man)
- **men** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/main-vs-men)
- **map** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/main-vs-map)
- **mix** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/main-vs-mix)
- **max** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/main-vs-max)
- **min** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/main-vs-min)
- **mar** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/main-vs-mar)
- **MIA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/main-vs-mia)
- **mon** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/main-vs-mon)
- **mat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/main-vs-mat)
- **mic** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/main-vs-mic)
- **mil** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/main-vs-mil)
- **mit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/main-vs-mit)
- **mao** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/main-vs-mao)
- **MRI** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/main-vs-mri)
- **mal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/main-vs-mal)
- **Mei** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/main-vs-mei)

## Common misspellings (3)
`mainn`, `mian`, `mmain`

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