# punch

> English word · Noun · IPA /pʌnt͡ʃ/ · frequency rank #4,182

## Definitions
1. A hit or strike with one's fist.
2. A blow from something other than the fist.
3. Power, strength, energy.
4. Impact.

## Etymology
From Middle English punchen, partially from Old French ponchonner (“to punch”), from ponchon (“pointed tool”), from Latin punctio, from punctus, perfect passive participle of pungō (“I prick”); and partially from Middle English punchen, a syncopated variant of punischen ("to punish"; see punish). Also influenced by Middle English punchon ("a punch"; see puncheon). Compare also Middle English bunchen, bonchen (“to punch, deliver a blow, pound, beat”).

## Easily confused with
- **push** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/punch-vs-push)
- **punk** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/punch-vs-punk)
- **punt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/punch-vs-punt)
- **Pune** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/punch-vs-pune)
- **puns** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/punch-vs-puns)
- **puny** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/punch-vs-puny)
- **punks** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/punch-vs-punks)
- **punts** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/punch-vs-punts)
- **punish** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/punch-vs-punish)
- **punchy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/punch-vs-punchy)
- **punched** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/punch-vs-punched)
- **pun** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pun-vs-punch)
- **PNC** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pnc-vs-punch)
- **puck** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/puck-vs-punch)
- **Pugh** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pugh-vs-punch)
- **pitch** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pitch-vs-punch)
- **patch** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/patch-vs-punch)
- **porch** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/porch-vs-punch)
- **peach** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/peach-vs-punch)
- **pinch** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pinch-vs-punch)

## Common misspellings (8)
`pnuch`, `ppunch`, `pucnh`, `puncch`, `punchh`, `punhc`, `punnch`, `upnch`

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