# strainer

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈstɹeɪnɚ/ · frequency rank #45,103

## Definitions
1. A device through which a liquid is passed for purification, filtering or separation from solid matter; anything (including a screen or a cloth) used to strain a liquid.
2. A perforated screen or openwork (usually at the end of a suction pipe of a pump), used to prevent solid bodies from mixing in a liquid stream or flowline.
3. Debris in water that blocks the passage of solid objects.
4. One who strains.

## Etymology
From Middle English strener, streynour, strenyour, equivalent to strain + -er.

## Easily confused with
- **striker** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/strainer-vs-striker)
- **stranger** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/strainer-vs-stranger)
- **stringer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/strainer-vs-stringer)
- **strain** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/strain-vs-strainer)
- **stained** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/stained-vs-strainer)
- **Steiner** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/steiner-vs-strainer)
- **strained** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/strained-vs-strainer)

## Common misspellings (12)
`srtainer`, `sstrainer`, `stariner`, `straienr`, `strainerr`, `strainner`, `strainre`, `stranier`, `strianer`, `strrainer`, `sttrainer`, `tsrainer`

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