# potential

> English word · Noun · IPA /pəˈtɛnʃəl/ · frequency rank #1,057

## Definitions
1. A currently unrealized ability (with the most common adposition being to).
2. The gravitational potential: the radial (irrotational, static) component of a gravitational field, also known as the Newtonian potential or the gravitoelectric field.
3. The work (energy) required to move a reference particle from a reference location to a specified location in the presence of a force field, for example to bring a unit positive electric charge from an infinite distance to a specified point against an electric field.
4. A verbal construction or form stating something is possible or probable.

## Etymology
From Late Latin potentialis, from Latin potentia (“power”), from potens (“powerful”). By surface analysis, potent + -ial.

## Easily confused with
- **potentially** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/potential-vs-potentially)

## Common misspellings (13)
`optential`, `poetntial`, `potenital`, `potenntial`, `potentail`, `potentiall`, `potentila`, `potenttial`, `potetnial`, `potnetial`, `pottential`, `ppotential`, `ptoential`

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