canvas and canvass are homophones: they are pronounced identically and spelled differently, which is why they are so often swapped. canvas means “a heavy, closely woven fabric (used for clothing or chairs or sails or tents)”. canvass means “the setting for a narrative or fictional or dramatic account”.
/ˈkænvəs/
1.n.a heavy, closely woven fabric (used for clothing or chairs or sails or tents)
2.n.an oil painting on canvas fabric
3.n.the setting for a narrative or fictional or dramatic account
“the crowded canvas of history”
| canvas | canvass | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈkænvəs/ | /ˈkænvəs/ |
| Said | KAN-vuhs | KAN-vuhs |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Letters | 6 | 7 |
| Parts of speech | noun, verb | noun, verb |
| Senses | 7 | 10 |
| How common | Familiar | Familiar |
| Synonyms | canvass | canvas |
Full entry for canvas · Full entry for canvass · More comparisons
/ˈkænvəs/
1.n.the setting for a narrative or fictional or dramatic account
“the crowded canvas of history”
2.n.an inquiry into public opinion conducted by interviewing a random sample of people
3.n.a large piece of fabric (usually canvas fabric) by means of which wind is used to propel a sailing vessel