# smirk

> English word · Noun · IPA /smɜːk/ · frequency rank #27,644

## Definitions
1. An uneven, often crooked smile that is insolent, self-satisfied, conceited or scornful.
2. A forced or affected smile.

## Etymology
From Middle English smirken, from Old English smearcian (“to smile”), corresponding to smerian + -cian (English -k; compare talk and stalk from, respectively, tell and steal). The former element from Proto-Germanic *smarōną (“to mock, scoff at”), and the latter from Proto-Germanic *-kōną. Compare Middle High German smielen/smieren (“to smile”) ( > obsolete, rare German schmieren). Doublet of smile.
The specific meaning of a mocking or unpleasant, malicious smile or grin develops in Early Modern English, but until the 18th century, it could still be used to describe a generic smile.

## Easily confused with
- **stir** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/smirk-vs-stir)
- **smith** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/smirk-vs-smith)
- **stick** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/smirk-vs-stick)
- **stark** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/smirk-vs-stark)
- **spark** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/smirk-vs-spark)
- **stink** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/smirk-vs-stink)
- **swirl** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/smirk-vs-swirl)
- **smurf** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/smirk-vs-smurf)
- **spire** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/smirk-vs-spire)
- **smite** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/smirk-vs-smite)
- **stork** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/smirk-vs-stork)
- **spiro** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/smirk-vs-spiro)
- **snark** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/smirk-vs-snark)
- **smock** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/smirk-vs-smock)
- **sir** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sir-vs-smirk)
- **sik** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sik-vs-smirk)
- **sick** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sick-vs-smirk)
- **sink** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sink-vs-smirk)
- **silk** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/silk-vs-smirk)
- **sire** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sire-vs-smirk)

## Common misspellings (8)
`msirk`, `simrk`, `smikr`, `smirkk`, `smirrk`, `smmirk`, `smrik`, `ssmirk`

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