# rex

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈɹɛks/ · frequency rank #8,478

## Definitions
1. A king, particularly in ancient Rome.
2. An animal which has a genetic recessive variation that causes the guard hairs to be very short or fully lacking.

## Etymology
From Latin rēx (“king”), referring originally to rabbits of the Belgian "castorrex" breed, so named because their fur was similar to that of beavers. Entered English around 1920. Doublet of rajah and roy.

## Easily confused with
- **RS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rex-vs-rs)
- **RT** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rex-vs-rt)
- **RM** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rex-vs-rm)
- **RN** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rex-vs-rn)
- **RI** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rex-vs-ri)
- **RP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rex-vs-rp)
- **RF** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rex-vs-rf)
- **RV** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rex-vs-rv)
- **RR** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rex-vs-rr)
- **RL** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rex-vs-rl)
- **RH** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rex-vs-rh)
- **RW** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rex-vs-rw)
- **run** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rex-vs-run)
- **row** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rex-vs-row)
- **rid** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rex-vs-rid)
- **Rio** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rex-vs-rio)
- **rob** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rex-vs-rob)
- **rip** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rex-vs-rip)
- **Roy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rex-vs-roy)
- **Ron** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rex-vs-ron)

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