# purpose

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈpɝpəs/ · frequency rank #1,405

## Definitions
1. The end for which something is done, is made or exists.
2. Function, role.
3. meaning for existing or doing something.
4. Resolution; determination.
5. The subject of discourse; the point at issue.

## Etymology
From Middle English purpos, from Old French purposer (“to propose”) (with conjugation altered based on poser), from Latin prō- (“forth”) + pōnere (“place, put”), hence Latin prōpōnō, prōpōnere.

## Easily confused with
- **purse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/purpose-vs-purse)
- **purposes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/purpose-vs-purposes)
- **purposed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/purpose-vs-purposed)
- **purposely** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/purpose-vs-purposely)
- **prose** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prose-vs-purpose)
- **purple** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/purple-vs-purpose)
- **propose** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/propose-vs-purpose)
- **purport** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/purport-vs-purpose)
- **porpoise** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/porpoise-vs-purpose)

## Common misspellings (10)
`ppurpose`, `prupose`, `puprose`, `puropse`, `purpoes`, `purposse`, `purppose`, `purpsoe`, `purrpose`, `uprpose`

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