# paraffin

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈpæɹ.ə.fɪn/ · frequency rank #40,380

## Definitions
1. A petroleum-based thin and colourless fuel oil.
2. Any member of the alkane hydrocarbons.
3. Paraffin wax.

## Etymology
From Latin paraffinum, from parum (too little) + affinis (related, affinity). Therefore low affinity or being chemically neutral.

## Common misspellings (10)
`apraffin`, `paarffin`, `paraffinn`, `paraffni`, `parafifn`, `parafin`, `parfafin`, `parraffin`, `pparaffin`, `praaffin`

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