# silence

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈsaɪl(ə)ns/ · frequency rank #3,261

## Definitions
1. The absence of any sound.
2. The act of refraining from speaking.
3. Refraining from speaking, for purposes of prayer or meditation; especially, a form of worship practiced by the Society of Friends (Quakers) during meetings.

## Etymology
From Middle English silence, from Old French silence, from Latin silentium (“silence”), from silēns (“quiet, silent”, present participle of silēre) + -ium. Displaced native Old English swīġe and sālnes.

## Easily confused with
- **since** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/silence-vs-since)
- **silent** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/silence-vs-silent)
- **Spence** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/silence-vs-spence)
- **silencer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/silence-vs-silencer)
- **sixpence** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/silence-vs-sixpence)
- **science** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/science-vs-silence)

## Common misspellings (11)
`islence`, `sielnce`, `silance`, `silecne`, `silencce`, `silenec`, `silennce`, `sillence`, `silnece`, `slience`, `ssilence`

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