'Practise' or 'Practice': What's the Difference Between the Two? 

Should you spell it ‘practise’ or ‘practice’? And what’s the difference between the two? We’ll answer both questions in this article, plus teach you how to use them both in a sentence.

In short, the difference between these two words is:

• ‘Practise’ is the British English spelling of the word. This spelling of the word is used as a verb. In British English, ‘practice’ is used as a noun.
• ‘Practice’ is the American English spelling of the word.

They both mean the same thing.

Commonly Confused Words: ‘Practice’ and ‘Practise’

As we just learned, ‘practise’ is the British English spelling of the word. ‘Practice’ is more commonly used in American English.

It's also used in British English as a noun rather than a verb.

‘Practice’ vs. ‘Practise’ – What’s the Difference?

There is no real difference between the words other than spelling and, with practice, usage in British English.

But the words mean the same thing. However, they shouldn’t be used interchangeably.

Definition and Meaning of ‘Practice’ and ‘Practise’

According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of the words is to carry out, to apply, or to be professionally engaged in (i.e., practicing medicine).

Use it to refer to the act of performing often, performing at work, and to train by repeated exercises.

Other definitions include the usual way of doing something, a repeated or customary action, or an actual application or performance.

Pronunciation: How to Pronounce ‘Practice’ and ‘Practise’

Wondering how to pronounce these words? Here’s a short guide.

• To pronounce both words, take a look at the phonetic spelling: prAktis

How to Use ‘Practice’ and ‘Practise’ in a Sentence

Now that we know what the words mean and how to pronounce them let’s see some examples of how to use them in a sentence.

• My fiancé used to practice medicine until he injured his hand in a car accident. He was going to be a surgeon.
• My father always told us to practice playing basketball so that we could make it to the NBA one day.
• I wonder if my son is practicing his spelling words. I want him to pass his spelling test on Friday.
• I always practice what I preach because I don’t want to be called a hypocrite.
• You’re suspended from the team, so steer clear of practice for the next few weeks.
• You have to practice driving if you want to get your license. I’ll take you out on the road after school.

Remember that these words can be used interchangeably if your audience happens to change. Just swap out one word for the other.

Final Advice on ‘Practice’ and ‘Practise’

To recap, we learned that both words mean the same thing. The only difference is usage. The version with the ‘c’ is the American English spelling of the word, and the version with the ‘s’ is the British English spelling of the word.

If you ever get stuck on anything, you can always come back for a quick refresher. We’ve got a ton of content on other confusing words and phrases you might see while learning the English language. Go check it out.