# upstart

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈʌp.stɑːt/ · frequency rank #35,570

## Definitions
1. One who has suddenly gained wealth, power, or other prominence, but either has not received social acceptance or has become arrogant or presumptuous.
2. The meadow saffron.

## Etymology
From Middle English upstarten, upsterten, equivalent to up- + start.

## Easily confused with
- **upstate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/upstart-vs-upstate)
- **upstairs** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/upstairs-vs-upstart)

## Common misspellings (11)
`pustart`, `uppstart`, `upsatrt`, `upsstart`, `upstarrt`, `upstartt`, `upstatr`, `upstrat`, `upsttart`, `uptsart`, `usptart`

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