# mutate

> English word · Verb · IPA /mjuːˈteɪt/ · frequency rank #45,532

## Definitions
1. To undergo mutation.
2. To cause mutation.

## Etymology
First attested in 1796; back-formation from mutation on the basis of -ate (verb-forming suffix), ultimately from Latin mūtō (“to exchange; to change, to vary”). Doublet of moult.

## Easily confused with
- **mute** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mutate-vs-mute)
- **mutt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mutate-vs-mutt)
- **mutter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mutate-vs-mutter)
- **mate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mate-vs-mutate)
- **matte** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/matte-vs-mutate)
- **Murat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/murat-vs-mutate)
- **mutant** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mutant-vs-mutate)
- **Mugabe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mugabe-vs-mutate)

## Common misspellings (8)
`mmutate`, `mtuate`, `muatte`, `mutaet`, `mutatte`, `muttae`, `muttate`, `umtate`

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