Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

perforce

/pɚˈfɔɹs/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.04 in modern English

Syllables
per-force
IPA
/pɚˈfɔɹs/
15
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars

Meaning

adv

By force.

Archaic

verb

To force; to compel.

Obsolete

Example Sentences

Etymology

From Middle English par force, from Anglo-Norman, from Old French par force (“by force”).

Origin

Word Breakdown

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /pɚˈfɔɹs/
  • British English: /pəˈfɔːs/

Usage

Inflected Forms

Frequently Paired Words

Synonyms

Rhymes With

Questions

How do you pronounce perforce?
The recorded pronunciation is /pɚˈfɔɹs/.
What does perforce mean?
By constraint of circumstances; of necessity; as a matter of course.
Where does perforce come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce perforce

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “perforce”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/pɚˈfɔɹs/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “perforce”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “perforce” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.