# razor

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈɹeɪzə/ · frequency rank #10,919

## Definitions
1. A keen-edged knife of peculiar shape, used in shaving the hair from the face or other parts of the body.
2. Any tool or instrument designed for shaving.
3. The sharp tusk of a wild boar.
4. A conceptual device that allows one to shave away unlikely explanations for a phenomenon.

## Etymology
From Middle English rasour, from Old French rasour, from raser (“to scrape, to shave”). More at rat. By surface analysis, raze + -or. Displaced the native Old English sċierseax (literally “shaving knife”).

## Easily confused with
- **rumor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/razor-vs-rumor)
- **rotor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/razor-vs-rotor)
- **rigor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/razor-vs-rigor)
- **Rao** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rao-vs-razor)
- **Raza** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/raza-vs-razor)
- **radar** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/radar-vs-razor)
- **Ramos** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ramos-vs-razor)
- **racer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/racer-vs-razor)
- **rarer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rarer-vs-razor)
- **rayon** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rayon-vs-razor)
- **radon** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/radon-vs-razor)
- **razer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/razer-vs-razor)
- **razed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/razed-vs-razor)
- **raptor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/raptor-vs-razor)

## Common misspellings (7)
`arzor`, `raozr`, `razorr`, `razro`, `razzor`, `rrazor`, `rzaor`

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