# plain

> English word · Adjective · IPA /pleɪn/ · frequency rank #3,446

## Definitions
1. Flat, level.
2. Simple, unaltered.
3. Simple, unaltered.
4. Simple, unaltered.
5. Simple, unaltered.
6. Simple, unaltered.
7. Obvious.
8. Obvious.
9. Open.
10. Open.
11. Not unusually beautiful; unattractive.
12. Not a trump.

## Etymology
From Middle English pleyn, borrowed from Anglo-Norman pleyn, playn, Middle French plain, plein, and Old French plain, from Latin plānus (“flat, even, level, plain”). Doublet of llano, piano, and plane.

## Easily confused with
- **play** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plain-vs-play)
- **plan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plain-vs-plan)
- **plat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plain-vs-plat)
- **plans** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plain-vs-plans)
- **plant** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plain-vs-plant)
- **plays** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plain-vs-plays)
- **plane** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plain-vs-plane)
- **plate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plain-vs-plate)
- **Putin** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plain-vs-putin)
- **plaza** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plain-vs-plaza)
- **plank** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plain-vs-plank)
- **Plato** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plain-vs-plato)
- **playa** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plain-vs-playa)
- **platt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plain-vs-platt)
- **plano** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plain-vs-plano)
- **prawn** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plain-vs-prawn)
- **Pliny** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plain-vs-pliny)
- **Praia** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plain-vs-praia)
- **plains** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plain-vs-plains)
- **plugin** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plain-vs-plugin)

## Common misspellings (7)
`lpain`, `palin`, `plainn`, `plani`, `plian`, `pllain`, `pplain`

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