# pixie

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈpɪksi/ · frequency rank #23,945

## Definitions
1. A playful sprite or elflike or fairy-like creature.
2. A cute, petite woman with short hair.
3. An upper-atmospheric optical phenomenon associated with thunderstorms, a short-lasting pinpoint of light on the surface of convective domes that produces a gnome.
4. A butterfly of the genus Melanis.
5. Ellipsis of pixie cut.

## Etymology
Uncertain; 17thC, originally in the folklore of southwest England; perhaps diminutive of Swedish pysk (“fairy”); perhaps Puck + -sy; see Wikipedia.

## Easily confused with
- **pie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pie-vs-pixie)
- **pix** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pix-vs-pixie)
- **pipe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pipe-vs-pixie)
- **pile** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pile-vs-pixie)
- **pine** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pine-vs-pixie)
- **pike** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pike-vs-pixie)
- **piece** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/piece-vs-pixie)
- **pixel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pixel-vs-pixie)
- **Pixar** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pixar-vs-pixie)
- **pique** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pique-vs-pixie)
- **pinkie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pinkie-vs-pixie)

## Common misspellings (6)
`ipxie`, `piixe`, `pixei`, `pixxie`, `ppixie`, `pxiie`

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