# weir

> English word · Noun · IPA /wɪə̯/ · frequency rank #14,670

## Definitions
1. An adjustable dam placed across a river to regulate the flow of water downstream.
2. A fence placed across a river to catch fish.
3. Seaweed.

## Etymology
From Middle English were, from Old English wer, from werian (“to dam up”), from Proto-West Germanic *warjan, from Proto-Germanic *warjaną, from Proto-Indo-European *wer- (“to cover”); Cognate with Old Norse ver (“station for fishing”), Sanskrit वृणोति (vṛṇóti). Related to warranty.

## Easily confused with
- **wi** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/weir-vs-wi)
- **win** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/weir-vs-win)
- **wet** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/weir-vs-wet)
- **wit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/weir-vs-wit)
- **Wii** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/weir-vs-wii)
- **wig** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/weir-vs-wig)
- **Wes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/weir-vs-wes)
- **wen** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/weir-vs-wen)
- **wis** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/weir-vs-wis)
- **wiz** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/weir-vs-wiz)
- **Wie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/weir-vs-wie)
- **wer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/weir-vs-wer)
- **wor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/weir-vs-wor)
- **wid** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/weir-vs-wid)
- **WIC** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/weir-vs-wic)
- **wim** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/weir-vs-wim)
- **were** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/weir-vs-were)
- **well** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/weir-vs-well)
- **went** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/weir-vs-went)
- **west** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/weir-vs-west)

## Common misspellings (4)
`ewir`, `weirr`, `weri`, `wweir`

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