# pet

> English word · Noun · IPA /pɛt/ · frequency rank #3,323

## Definitions
1. An animal kept as a companion or otherwise for pleasure, rather than for some practical benefit or use.
2. Something kept as a companion, including inanimate objects (pet rock, pet plant, etc.).
3. One who is excessively loyal to a superior and receives preferential treatment.
4. Any person or animal especially cherished and indulged; a darling.

## Etymology
Originally northern dialectal, from Scots pet (“an animal that has been tamed and is kept as a pet; a darling or favourite; a petted or spoiled child”), probably from Scottish Gaelic peata (“pet, tamed animal, spoiled child”), from Middle Irish petta, peta (“pet, lap-dog”), of uncertain origin, possibly from a pre-Indo-European substrate. Compare also peat (“pet, darling, woman”), which is likely not related.
The verb is derived from the noun.

## Easily confused with
- **PM** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pet-vs-pm)
- **PP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pet-vs-pp)
- **PR** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pet-vs-pr)
- **pt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pet-vs-pt)
- **PS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pet-vs-ps)
- **po** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pet-vs-po)
- **pi** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pet-vs-pi)
- **PG** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pet-vs-pg)
- **PL** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pet-vs-pl)
- **PF** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pet-vs-pf)
- **PU** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pet-vs-pu)
- **PK** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pet-vs-pk)
- **PV** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pet-vs-pv)
- **PJ** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pet-vs-pj)
- **PW** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pet-vs-pw)
- **PX** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pet-vs-px)
- **put** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pet-vs-put)
- **pro** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pet-vs-pro)
- **pop** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pet-vs-pop)
- **pot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pet-vs-pot)

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