# softness

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈsɔftnəs/ · frequency rank #29,469

## Definitions
1. The quality of being soft.

## Etymology
From Middle English softnesse, from Old English sōftnes, alteration of earlier sēftnes. Equivalent to soft + -ness.

## Easily confused with
- **soreness** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/softness-vs-soreness)
- **shortness** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shortness-vs-softness)

## Common misspellings (11)
`osftness`, `sfotness`, `sofftness`, `sofntess`, `softenss`, `softnes`, `softnness`, `softnses`, `softtness`, `sotfness`, `ssoftness`

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