# ransom

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈɹæn.səm/ · frequency rank #11,588

## Definitions
1. Money paid for the freeing of a hostage.
2. The release of a captive, or of captured property, by payment of a consideration.
3. A sum paid for the pardon of some great offence and the discharge of the offender; also, a fine paid in lieu of corporal punishment.

## Etymology
From the Middle English ransoun, from the Old French raençon, from stem of Latin redēmptiō. Entered English ca. the 13th century. Doublet of redemption.

## Easily confused with
- **ronson** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ransom-vs-ronson)
- **random** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/random-vs-ransom)

## Common misspellings (9)
`arnsom`, `rannsom`, `ranosm`, `ransmo`, `ransomm`, `ranssom`, `rasnom`, `rnasom`, `rransom`

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