# piston

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈpɪstən/ · frequency rank #15,677

## Definitions
1. A solid disk or cylinder that fits inside a hollow cylinder, and moves under pressure (as in an engine) or displaces fluid (as in a pump)
2. A valve device in some brass instruments for changing the pitch

## Etymology
From French piston.

## Easily confused with
- **prison** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/piston-vs-prison)
- **poison** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/piston-vs-poison)
- **proton** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/piston-vs-proton)
- **Preston** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/piston-vs-preston)
- **Poisson** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/piston-vs-poisson)
- **pinto** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pinto-vs-piston)
- **pesto** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pesto-vs-piston)
- **Paton** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/paton-vs-piston)
- **pastor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pastor-vs-piston)
- **pistol** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pistol-vs-piston)
- **pigeon** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pigeon-vs-piston)
- **Peyton** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/peyton-vs-piston)
- **Patton** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/patton-vs-piston)
- **photon** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/photon-vs-piston)
- **Paxton** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/paxton-vs-piston)
- **Payton** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/payton-vs-piston)
- **parton** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/parton-vs-piston)
- **pinion** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pinion-vs-piston)

## Common misspellings (9)
`ipston`, `pisotn`, `pisston`, `pistno`, `pistonn`, `pistton`, `pitson`, `ppiston`, `psiton`

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