# phrase

> English word · Noun · IPA /fɹeɪz/ · frequency rank #4,320

## Definitions
1. A short written or spoken expression.
2. A word or, more commonly, a group of words that functions as a single unit in the syntax of a sentence, always containing an expressed or implied head (the principal word or subgroup, with core importance) and often consisting of a head plus some other elaborating words.
3. A small section of music in a larger piece.
4. A mode or form of speech; diction; expression.
5. A short individual motion forming part of a choreographed dance.

## Etymology
From Late Latin phrasis (“diction”), from Ancient Greek φράσις (phrásis, “manner of expression”), from φράζω (phrázō, “to tell, express”).

## Easily confused with
- **purse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/phrase-vs-purse)
- **prose** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/phrase-vs-prose)
- **please** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/phrase-vs-please)
- **praise** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/phrase-vs-praise)
- **pirate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/phrase-vs-pirate)
- **phrases** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/phrase-vs-phrases)
- **phrased** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/phrase-vs-phrased)
- **phase** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/phase-vs-phrase)
- **parse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/parse-vs-phrase)
- **pease** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pease-vs-phrase)
- **Paras** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/paras-vs-phrase)
- **phage** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/phage-vs-phrase)
- **parade** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/parade-vs-phrase)
- **phases** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/phases-vs-phrase)
- **phased** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/phased-vs-phrase)
- **peruse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/peruse-vs-phrase)

## Common misspellings (9)
`hprase`, `pharse`, `phhrase`, `phraes`, `phrasse`, `phrrase`, `phrsae`, `pphrase`, `prhase`

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