# mercy

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈmɜːsi/ · frequency rank #4,691

## Definitions
1. Relenting; forbearance to cause or allow harm to another.
2. Forgiveness or compassion, especially toward those less fortunate.
3. A tendency toward forgiveness, pity, or compassion.
4. Instances of forbearance or forgiveness.
5. A blessing; something to be thankful for.
6. A children's game in which two players stand opposite with hands grasped and twist each other's arms until one gives in.

## Etymology
From Middle English mercy, merci, from Anglo-Norman merci (compare continental Old French merci, mercit), from Latin mercēs (“wages, fee, price”), from merx (“wares, merchandise”). Displaced native Old English mildheortnes (literally "mildheartedness"). Cognate with French merci, whence the doublet merci.

## Easily confused with
- **MRC** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mercy-vs-mrc)
- **mere** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mercy-vs-mere)
- **MERS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mercy-vs-mers)
- **Merv** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mercy-vs-merv)
- **merit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mercy-vs-merit)
- **messy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mercy-vs-messy)
- **merry** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mercy-vs-merry)
- **merge** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mercy-vs-merge)
- **Meryl** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mercy-vs-meryl)
- **Morty** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mercy-vs-morty)
- **murky** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mercy-vs-murky)
- **merle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mercy-vs-merle)
- **moray** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mercy-vs-moray)
- **merely** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mercy-vs-merely)
- **Mervyn** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mercy-vs-mervyn)
- **Mersey** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mercy-vs-mersey)
- **mer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mer-vs-mercy)
- **mec** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mec-vs-mercy)
- **Mary** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mary-vs-mercy)
- **marc** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/marc-vs-mercy)

## Common misspellings (8)
`emrcy`, `mecry`, `merccy`, `mercyy`, `merrcy`, `meryc`, `mmercy`, `mrecy`

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