# prize

> English word · Noun · IPA /pɹaɪz/ · frequency rank #2,549

## Definitions
1. That which is taken from another; something captured; a thing seized by force, stratagem, or superior power.
2. Anything captured by a belligerent using the rights of war; especially, property captured at sea in virtue of the rights of war, as a vessel.
3. An honour or reward striven for in a competitive contest; anything offered to be competed for, or as an inducement to, or reward of, effort.
4. That which may be won by chance, as in a lottery.
5. Anything worth striving for; a valuable possession held or in prospect.
6. A contest for a reward; competition.
7. A lever; a pry; also, the hold of a lever.

## Etymology
From Middle English prise, from Old French prise (“a taking, capture, a seizure, a thing seized, a prize, booty, also hold, purchase”), past participle of prendre (“to take, to capture”), from Latin prēndere (“to take, seize”); see prehend. Compare prison, apprise, comprise, enterprise, purprise, reprisal, surprise, etc. Doublet of prise.

## Easily confused with
- **prove** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prize-vs-prove)
- **probe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prize-vs-probe)
- **prone** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prize-vs-prone)
- **prose** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prize-vs-prose)
- **prune** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prize-vs-prune)
- **prude** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prize-vs-prude)
- **prizes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prize-vs-prizes)
- **prized** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prize-vs-prized)
- **pyrite** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prize-vs-pyrite)
- **pie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pie-vs-prize)
- **pipe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pipe-vs-prize)
- **pile** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pile-vs-prize)
- **pine** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pine-vs-prize)
- **pike** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pike-vs-prize)
- **prim** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prim-vs-prize)
- **prez** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prez-vs-prize)
- **price** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/price-vs-prize)
- **prior** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prior-vs-prize)
- **prime** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prime-vs-prize)
- **print** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/print-vs-prize)

## Common misspellings (7)
`pirze`, `pprize`, `priez`, `prizze`, `prrize`, `przie`, `rpize`

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