# vigil

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈvɪd͡ʒəl/ · frequency rank #21,407

## Definitions
1. An instance of keeping awake during normal sleeping hours, especially to keep watch or pray.
2. A period of observation or surveillance at any hour.
3. The eve of a religious festival in which staying awake is part of the ritual devotions.
4. A quiet demonstration in support of a cause.

## Etymology
From Middle English vigile (“a devotional watching”), from Old French vigile, from Latin vigilia (“wakefulness, watch”), from vigil (“awake”), from Proto-Indo-European *weǵ- (“to be strong, lively, awake”). Doublet of Wigilia. See also wake and vigor, from the same root.

## Easily confused with
- **Vigo** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vigil-vs-vigo)
- **visit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vigil-vs-visit)
- **vital** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vigil-vs-vital)
- **viral** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vigil-vs-viral)
- **vinyl** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vigil-vs-vinyl)
- **vivid** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vigil-vs-vivid)
- **Vogel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vigil-vs-vogel)
- **vigor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vigil-vs-vigor)
- **virgin** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vigil-vs-virgin)
- **Virgil** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vigil-vs-virgil)
- **veil** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/veil-vs-vigil)
- **vial** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vial-vs-vigil)
- **vail** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vail-vs-vigil)

## Common misspellings (7)
`ivgil`, `vgiil`, `viggil`, `vigill`, `vigli`, `viigl`, `vvigil`

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