# shirk

> English word · Verb · IPA /ʃɜːk/ · frequency rank #43,913

## Definitions
1. To avoid, especially a duty, responsibility, etc.; to stay away from.
2. To evade an obligation; to avoid the performance of duty, as by running away.
3. To procure by petty fraud and trickery; to obtain by mean solicitation.

## Etymology
First use appears c. 1633, in the publications of Shackerley Marmion, apparently from association with shark (verb), or otherwise directly from German Schurke (“rogue, knave”).

## Easily confused with
- **sir** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shirk-vs-sir)
- **sik** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shirk-vs-sik)
- **shit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shirk-vs-shit)
- **sick** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shirk-vs-sick)
- **sink** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shirk-vs-sink)
- **silk** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shirk-vs-silk)
- **stir** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shirk-vs-stir)
- **Shri** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shirk-vs-shri)
- **sire** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shirk-vs-sire)
- **Siri** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shirk-vs-siri)
- **shiv** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shirk-vs-shiv)
- **short** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shirk-vs-short)
- **stick** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shirk-vs-stick)
- **shirt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shirk-vs-shirt)
- **shock** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shirk-vs-shock)
- **shore** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shirk-vs-shore)
- **shook** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shirk-vs-shook)
- **stark** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shirk-vs-stark)
- **spark** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shirk-vs-spark)
- **skirt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shirk-vs-skirt)

## Common misspellings (8)
`hsirk`, `shhirk`, `shikr`, `shirkk`, `shirrk`, `shrik`, `sihrk`, `sshirk`

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