zoar
/ˈzəʊ.ɑː/
"zoar" is a 4-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“zoar” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a noun - the kind of word writers most often double-check.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 4
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A place of refuge; a sanctuary.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | zoar |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Noun |
| IPA | /ˈzəʊ.ɑː/ |
| Letters | 4 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “zoar” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for zoar is 4 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈzəʊ.ɑː/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. The dominant gloss from Wiktionary reads: "A place of refuge; a sanctuary.".
Zero misspellings are on record for zoar in our index, a straightforward case of a spelling with little room for common typos. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.
Etymologically, the entry records: From Zoar, mentioned in the Bible as the place where Lot fled with his wife and two daughters to escape death when Yahweh destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, from Biblical Hebrew צֹעַר (tso`ar, “insignificance, smallness”). The correct English form is zoar, spelled Z-O-A-R.
Definition
- 1A place of refuge; a sanctuary.
Etymology
From Zoar, mentioned in the Bible as the place where Lot fled with his wife and two daughters to escape death when Yahweh destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, from Biblical Hebrew צֹעַר (tso`ar, “insignificance, smallness”).
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you spell "zoar"?
What does "zoar" mean?
How do you pronounce "zoar"?
What is the origin of the word "zoar"?
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Using “zoar”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is Z-O-A-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /ˈzəʊ.ɑː/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
- Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source
Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.