# thymus

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈθaɪ.məs/ · frequency rank #48,528

## Definitions
1. Ellipsis of thymus gland (“A ductless gland, consisting mainly of lymphatic tissue, located behind the top of the breastbone. It is most active during puberty, after which it shrinks in size. It plays an important role in the development of the immune system and produces lymphocytes.”).

## Etymology
From New Latin thymus, from Ancient Greek θύμος (thúmos, “warty excrescence, (also, as used by Galen) thymus gland”).

## Easily confused with
- **thus** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/thus-vs-thymus)
- **thyme** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/thyme-vs-thymus)
- **Thomas** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/thomas-vs-thymus)
- **Thames** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/thames-vs-thymus)

## Common misspellings (10)
`htymus`, `thhymus`, `thmyus`, `thymmus`, `thymsu`, `thymuss`, `thyums`, `thyymus`, `tthymus`, `tyhmus`

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