# zeal

> English word · Noun · IPA /ziːl/ · frequency rank #20,275

## Definitions
1. The fervour or tireless devotion for a person, cause, or ideal and determination in its furtherance; diligent enthusiasm; powerful interest.
2. A person who exhibits such fervour or tireless devotion.
3. A group of zebras.

## Etymology
From Middle English zele, from Old French zel, from Late Latin zēlus, from Ancient Greek ζῆλος (zêlos, “zeal, jealousy”), from Proto-Indo-European *yeh₂- (“to search”). Related to jealous.

## Easily confused with
- **Zen** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/zeal-vs-zen)
- **zee** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/zeal-vs-zee)
- **zed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/zeal-vs-zed)
- **Zia** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/zeal-vs-zia)
- **zero** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/zeal-vs-zero)
- **Zeus** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/zeal-vs-zeus)
- **Zhao** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/zeal-vs-zhao)
- **Zeke** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/zeal-vs-zeke)
- **zest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/zeal-vs-zest)
- **zeta** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/zeal-vs-zeta)
- **Zeno** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/zeal-vs-zeno)
- **zonal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/zeal-vs-zonal)
- **za** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/za-vs-zeal)
- **ze** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ze-vs-zeal)
- **zac** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/zac-vs-zeal)
- **zak** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/zak-vs-zeal)
- **zap** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/zap-vs-zeal)
- **zag** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/zag-vs-zeal)

## Common misspellings (5)
`ezal`, `zael`, `zeall`, `zela`, `zzeal`

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