# rotary

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈɹəʊ.tə.ɹi/ · frequency rank #12,853

## Definitions
1. Capable of rotation.

## Etymology
Attested mid 18th century, from Medieval Latin rotarius, from Latin rota (“wheel”).

## Easily confused with
- **rotor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rotary-vs-rotor)
- **rotate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rotary-vs-rotate)
- **rotors** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rotary-vs-rotors)
- **Rory** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rory-vs-rotary)
- **roar** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/roar-vs-rotary)
- **rota** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rota-vs-rotary)
- **roars** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/roars-vs-rotary)
- **retry** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/retry-vs-rotary)
- **retard** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/retard-vs-rotary)
- **rosary** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rosary-vs-rotary)

## Common misspellings (9)
`ortary`, `roatry`, `rotarry`, `rotaryy`, `rotayr`, `rotray`, `rottary`, `rrotary`, `rtoary`

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