# precise

> English word · Adjective · IPA /pɹɪˈsaɪs/ · frequency rank #5,825

## Definitions
1. Both exact and accurate.
2. Consistent, clustered close together, agreeing with each other (this does not mean that they cluster near the true, correct, or accurate value).
3. Adhering too much to rules; prim or punctilious.

## Etymology
From Middle French précis, from Latin praecīsus, perfect passive participle of praecīdere, from prae- (“before, in front”) + caedere (“cut; strike”), cognate with hit. Related to incise. Doublet of précis.

## Easily confused with
- **promise** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/precise-vs-promise)
- **premise** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/precise-vs-premise)
- **preside** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/precise-vs-preside)
- **premises** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/precise-vs-premises)
- **precisely** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/precise-vs-precisely)
- **praise** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/praise-vs-precise)
- **precede** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/precede-vs-precise)
- **practise** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/practise-vs-precise)

## Common misspellings (10)
`percise`, `pprecise`, `prceise`, `preccise`, `precies`, `precisse`, `precsie`, `preicse`, `prrecise`, `rpecise`

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