# spasm

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈspæz.m̩/ · frequency rank #35,950

## Definitions
1. A sudden, involuntary contraction of a muscle, a group of muscles, or a hollow organ.
2. A violent, excruciating seizure of pain.
3. A sudden and temporary burst of energy, activity, or emotion.

## Etymology
From Middle English spasme, from Old French spasme, from Latin spasmus, from Ancient Greek σπασμός (spasmós, “spasm, convulsion”), from σπάω (spáō, “to draw out, pull out”).

## Easily confused with
- **SPS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spasm-vs-sps)
- **swam** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spasm-vs-swam)
- **spat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spasm-vs-spat)
- **sperm** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spasm-vs-sperm)
- **stash** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spasm-vs-stash)
- **swarm** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spasm-vs-swarm)
- **spawn** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spasm-vs-spawn)
- **spate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spasm-vs-spate)
- **Stasi** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spasm-vs-stasi)
- **splash** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spasm-vs-splash)
- **Sam** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sam-vs-spasm)
- **spa** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spa-vs-spasm)
- **SAS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sas-vs-spasm)
- **span** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/span-vs-spasm)
- **spam** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spam-vs-spasm)
- **slam** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/slam-vs-spasm)
- **scam** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scam-vs-spasm)
- **seas** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/seas-vs-spasm)
- **sham** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sham-vs-spasm)
- **seam** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/seam-vs-spasm)

## Common misspellings (8)
`psasm`, `sapsm`, `spams`, `spasmm`, `spassm`, `sppasm`, `spsam`, `sspasm`

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