“Leach” or “Leech”—Which to use?

“Leach” or “Leech”

Overview

leach / leech are similar-sounding terms with different meanings (referred to as homophones). To better understand the differences, see below for definitions, pronunciation guides, and example sentences using each term. 👇

Definitions

leach: (noun) the process of leaching. (verb) cause (a liquid) to leach or percolate. (verb) permeate or penetrate gradually. (verb) remove substances from by a percolating liquid.

leech: (noun) carnivorous or bloodsucking aquatic or terrestrial worms typically having a sucker at each end. (noun) a follower who hangs around a host (without benefit to the host) in hope of gain or advantage.

Pronunciation

leach: l·IY·ch

leech: l·IY·ch

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Examples in Context

Examples of “leach”

Stubbs and Leach lost in the first round…
In 1983, Leach sought to regain his former…
Leach had joined the Democratic Party,…
Anthony Claude Leach, Jr., known as Buddy Leach…
After attending college, Leach served in the United States…
After his father Anthony Leach, Sr. died, "Buddy" Leach began…
…was later known as Setter, Leach & Lindstrom, acquired by Leo…
In 1954, Leach was diagnosed with polio.
Leach sold the business after finding…
…McGregor Road, Hunter Crescent, the Leach Highway, and McManus Way.

Examples of “leech”

Leech died of a self-inflicted gunshot
The Leech Woman (1960) – Bertram Garvay
Magician and leech: a study in the beginnings…
…medicine resulted in Magician and Leech, and many later articles.
John Leech (restaurateur)
…binary Golay code and the Leech lattice both lie in spaces…
Transport – John Leech
Leech, Philip, and Jamie Gaskarth.
…torpedo (nicknamed the Mignatta or "leech") into the Austro-Hungarian naval base…
…golden glove boxers in the Leech Lake area.

(Examples are Wikipedia snippets under the CC ShareAlike 3.0 license. Definitions drawn from WordNet.)

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