# phosphorus

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈfɒs.fə.ɹəs/ · frequency rank #21,025

## Definitions
1. A chemical element (symbol P) with an atomic number of 15, that exists in several allotropic forms.
2. Any substance exhibiting phosphorescence; a phosphor.

## Etymology
Borrowed from Latin phōsphorus, from Ancient Greek φωσφόρος (phōsphóros, “the bearer of light”), from φῶς (phôs, “light”) + φέρω (phérō, “to bear, carry”).

## Easily confused with
- **Phosphor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/phosphor-vs-phosphorus)

## Common misspellings (16)
`hposphorus`, `phhosphorus`, `phopshorus`, `phoshporus`, `phosphhorus`, `phosphorrus`, `phosphorsu`, `phosphoruss`, `phosphours`, `phosphrous`, `phospohrus`, `phospphorus`, `phossphorus`, `phsophorus`, `pohsphorus`, `pphosphorus`

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