What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
lance
Example
The knight charged with his lance aimed at the opponent's shield. [lance: noun]
Example
The surgeon used a lance to drain the abscess. [lance: verb]
spear
Example
The warrior hurled his spear at the enemy. [spear: noun]
Example
He speared the fish and put it in the basket. [speared: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Spear is more commonly used than lance in everyday language. Spear is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while lance is less common and often associated with historical or specialized contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between lance and spear?
Both lance and spear are formal words that are not commonly used in everyday conversation. However, lance may be considered more formal due to its association with medieval European culture and specialized contexts such as medicine.
