# wreck

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈɹɛk/ · frequency rank #7,638

## Definitions
1. Something or someone that has been ruined.
2. The remains of something that has been severely damaged or worn down.
3. An event in which something is damaged through collision.
4. An event in which something is damaged through collision.
5. Goods, etc. cast ashore by the sea after a shipwreck.
6. A large number of birds that have been brought to the ground, injured or dead, by extremely adverse weather.

## Etymology
From Middle English wrek, from Anglo-Norman wrek, from Old Norse *wrek (Norwegian and Icelandic rek, Swedish vrak, Danish vrag), from Proto-Germanic *wrekaną, whence also Old English wrecan (English wreak), Old High German rehhan, Old Saxon wrekan, Gothic 𐍅𐍂𐌹𐌺𐌰𐌽 (wrikan).

## Easily confused with
- **wren** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wreck-vs-wren)
- **wrest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wreck-vs-wrest)
- **wrench** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wreck-vs-wrench)
- **wrecks** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wreck-vs-wrecks)
- **wretch** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wreck-vs-wretch)
- **wrecked** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wreck-vs-wrecked)
- **wrecker** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wreck-vs-wrecker)
- **week** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/week-vs-wreck)
- **weak** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/weak-vs-wreck)
- **wick** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wick-vs-wreck)
- **wack** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wack-vs-wreck)
- **werk** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/werk-vs-wreck)
- **whack** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/whack-vs-wreck)
- **wreak** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wreak-vs-wreck)
- **rec** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rec-vs-wreck)

## Common misspellings (8)
`rweck`, `werck`, `wrcek`, `wrecck`, `wreckk`, `wrekc`, `wrreck`, `wwreck`

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