# saffron

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈsæfɹən/ · frequency rank #22,204

## Definitions
1. A plant of species Crocus sativus, a crocus.
2. A spice (seasoning) and colouring agent made from the stigma and part of the style of the plant, sometimes or formerly also used as a dye and insect repellent.
3. An orange-yellow colour, the colour of a lion's pelt.

## Etymology
Etymology tree
Aramaic צפרder.
Arabic زَعْفَرَان (zaʕfarān)bor.
Medieval Latin safranumbor.
Old French safranbor.
Middle English saffron
English saffron
Inherited from Middle English saffron, borrowed from Old French safran, borrowed from Medieval Latin safranum, borrowed from Arabic زَعْفَرَان (zaʕfarān), from Aramaic צפר.

## Easily confused with
- **Sauron** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/saffron-vs-sauron)

## Common misspellings (9)
`asffron`, `safforn`, `saffrno`, `saffronn`, `saffrron`, `safrfon`, `safron`, `sfafron`, `ssaffron`

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