# recoil

> English word · Noun · IPA /ɹɪˈkɔɪl/ · frequency rank #22,785

## Definitions
1. A starting or falling back; a rebound; a shrinking.
2. The state or condition of having recoiled.
3. The energy transmitted back to the shooter from a firearm which has fired. Recoil is a function of the weight of the weapon, the weight of the projectile, and the speed at which it leaves the muzzle.
4. An escapement in which, after each beat, the scape-wheel recoils slightly.

## Etymology
From Old French reculer. Further from Latin re- + cūlus.

## Easily confused with
- **recon** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/recoil-vs-recon)
- **record** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/recoil-vs-record)
- **retail** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/recoil-vs-retail)
- **rejoin** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/recoil-vs-rejoin)
- **recoup** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/recoil-vs-recoup)
- **rectal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/recoil-vs-rectal)
- **recall** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/recall-vs-recoil)

## Common misspellings (8)
`ercoil`, `rceoil`, `reccoil`, `reciol`, `recoill`, `recoli`, `reocil`, `rrecoil`

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