# scouring

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈskaʊə.ɹɪŋ/ · frequency rank #29,452

## Definitions
1. The act of cleaning a surface by rubbing it with a brush, soap and water.
2. Diarrhea. (Now used only of livestock, though also sometimes used of humans into the 1600s.)
3. Erosion by water, especially in watercourses.

## Easily confused with
- **storing** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scouring-vs-storing)
- **soaring** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scouring-vs-soaring)
- **snoring** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scouring-vs-snoring)
- **shouting** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scouring-vs-shouting)
- **securing** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scouring-vs-securing)
- **scouting** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scouring-vs-scouting)
- **sourcing** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scouring-vs-sourcing)
- **spouting** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scouring-vs-spouting)
- **scoring** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scoring-vs-scouring)
- **scaring** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scaring-vs-scouring)
- **scoping** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scoping-vs-scouring)
- **scarring** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scarring-vs-scouring)
- **scolding** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scolding-vs-scouring)
- **scooping** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scooping-vs-scouring)

## Common misspellings (12)
`csouring`, `sccouring`, `scoruing`, `scouirng`, `scourign`, `scouringg`, `scourinng`, `scournig`, `scourring`, `scuoring`, `socuring`, `sscouring`

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