# melissa

> English word · Noun · IPA /məˈlɪsə/ · frequency rank #9,066

## Definitions
1. A plant of the genus Melissa, especially lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), often used medicinally.

## Etymology
From Late Latin melissa, from Ancient Greek μέλισσα (mélissa, “bee”), because the plant attracts bees.

## Easily confused with
- **missa** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/melissa-vs-missa)
- **Melinda** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/melinda-vs-melissa)
- **Marissa** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/marissa-vs-melissa)

## Common misspellings (8)
`emlissa`, `meilssa`, `melisa`, `melisas`, `mellissa`, `melsisa`, `mleissa`, `mmelissa`

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