# pest

> English word · Noun · IPA /pɛst/ · frequency rank #12,295

## Definitions
1. A pestilence, i.e. a deadly epidemic, a deadly plague.
2. Any destructive insect that attacks crops or livestock; an agricultural pest.
3. An annoying person, a nuisance.
4. An animal regarded as a nuisance, destructive, or a parasite, vermin.
5. An invasive weed.

## Etymology
In the 16th century in the sense of "pestilence" and specifically bubonic plague from Middle French peste (“pestilence”) (whence French peste). The other meanings are recorded soon after. Ultimately from Latin pestis.

## Easily confused with
- **pt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pest-vs-pt)
- **PS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pest-vs-ps)
- **put** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pest-vs-put)
- **pet** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pest-vs-pet)
- **pot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pest-vs-pot)
- **pit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pest-vs-pit)
- **pos** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pest-vs-pos)
- **PSA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pest-vs-psa)
- **PTS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pest-vs-pts)
- **psi** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pest-vs-psi)
- **pew** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pest-vs-pew)
- **PSG** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pest-vs-psg)
- **PST** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pest-vs-pst)
- **PSP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pest-vs-psp)
- **PMS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pest-vs-pms)
- **pus** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pest-vs-pus)
- **PSU** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pest-vs-psu)
- **PPS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pest-vs-pps)
- **PRS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pest-vs-prs)
- **PSC** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pest-vs-psc)

## Common misspellings (5)
`epst`, `pesst`, `pestt`, `ppest`, `pset`

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