Faze is a verb meaning to disturb, unsettle, or worry someone (nothing fazes her; he wasn’t fazed). Phase is usually a noun meaning a stage in a process (a difficult phase, a phase of the moon), and a verb in phase in and phase out. They are homophones — both pronounced /feɪz/ — so only the spelling tells them apart. The common error “it didn’t phase me” should be faze. For a fuller definition, see the Cambridge Dictionary entry for ‘faze’.
Faze and phase are easy to mix up because they sound exactly the same. Words that share the same pronunciation but have different meanings and spellings are called homophones. Your ear cannot separate them, so you must rely on meaning and spelling to choose correctly. The trickiest part is that faze is much rarer than phase, so writers often reach for the familiar spelling even when they mean “to unsettle.” Once you know that faze is about feelings and phase is about stages, the choice becomes clear.
At a Glance: Faze vs Phase
| Word | Meaning | Part of Speech | Common Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| faze | to disturb, unsettle, or worry someone | Verb | nothing fazes her, he wasn’t fazed |
| phase | a stage in a process; (verb) to introduce or remove in stages | Noun; also a verb | a difficult phase, phase out plastic, a phase of the moon |
Using “Faze”
Faze is a verb. It means to disturb, unsettle, frighten, or worry someone — usually so that they lose their calm or confidence. It is most often used in the negative, to say that something did not upset a person who stayed calm.
Definition
To disturb or disconcert someone; to make them feel uneasy or shaken: the criticism didn’t faze him at all. It is frequently used in negatives and questions: nothing seems to faze her; does the pressure faze you? The past tense and adjective form is fazed: she looked completely unfazed.
When to use it
- Saying something does not upset a calm person: nothing fazes her
- Describing someone who stays unshaken: he was completely unfazed
- Asking whether something worries someone: does the crowd faze you?
- Reporting that bad news disturbed someone: the result really fazed him
- Anywhere you mean “to unsettle” or “to put off” emotionally
The hostile questions from the audience didn’t faze her in the slightest.
Nothing seems to faze him; he stays calm under any pressure.
The young goalkeeper was completely unfazed by the huge crowd.
Losing the first set did not faze the experienced player.
Does speaking in public faze you, or are you confident?
nothing fazes + person: nothing fazes her
not / didn’t faze: it didn’t faze him
unfazed (adjective): she was completely unfazed
Using “Phase”
Phase is usually a noun. It means a distinct stage or period in a process of change or development. It can also be a verb, almost always in the phrasal verbs phase in (introduce gradually) and phase out (remove gradually).
Definition
1. (noun) A distinct stage in a series of events or a process of development: the first phase of the project; a difficult phase in her life. 2. (noun, science) One of the changing shapes of the moon, or a stage in a physical process: the phases of the moon. 3. (verb) phase in / phase out = to introduce or remove something gradually, in stages: they will phase out single-use plastics.
When to use it
- Describing a stage in a process: the next phase of the plan
- Describing a temporary period: it’s just a phase she’s going through
- Talking about the moon: the phases of the moon
- As the verb phase out: phase out diesel cars
- As the verb phase in: phase in the new rules slowly
The first phase of the building project will finish next spring.
He went through a difficult phase after leaving school.
The teacher explained the different phases of the moon.
The government plans to phase out single-use plastics by 2030.
The new safety rules will be phased in over the next two years.
the first / next phase of: the next phase of the plan
a difficult / passing phase: it’s just a phase
phase in / out (verb): phase out plastic, phase in the rules
The Key Difference: Unsettle vs a Stage
The single most important thing to remember is that faze and phase have nothing to do with each other in meaning — they just happen to sound the same. Faze is a verb about disturbing someone’s feelings. Phase is mostly a noun about a stage in a process. If you can replace the word with “unsettle” or “worry,” you want faze. If you can replace it with “a stage” or “a period,” you want phase.
Unsettle / worry → faze:
The setback didn’t faze her. (= it didn’t unsettle her)
A stage / a period → phase:
We have reached the final phase. (= the final stage)
Because they are homophones, no listener can hear the difference — the spelling only matters in writing. So when you write, pause and ask yourself: am I talking about disturbing someone, or about a stage? That one question solves almost every mistake.
Common Mistakes
The bad news didn’t phase me at all.
The bad news didn’t faze me at all. (= it didn’t unsettle me; this is the most common error)
Nothing phases her.
Nothing fazes her. (= nothing unsettles her)
We have reached the final faze of the project.
We have reached the final phase of the project. (= the final stage)
They will faze out the old machines next year.
They will phase out the old machines next year. (= remove them in stages)
Special Expressions and Fixed Phrases
Several common expressions are fixed with faze and cannot be spelled with phase:
- nothing fazes (someone) — they stay calm whatever happens: nothing fazes her
- not fazed / unfazed — not unsettled: he was completely unfazed
- didn’t faze (someone) — did not worry them: the noise didn’t faze him
And several are fixed with phase:
- a phase / a passing phase — a temporary period: it’s just a phase
- phase in / phase out — to introduce or remove in stages: phase out plastic
- the phases of the moon — the moon’s changing shapes
- the first / next / final phase — a stage of a plan or process
Faze uses the rare letter z — think of a sudden, jolting zap to your nerves that unsettles you. Phase begins with ph, just like the staged words physics and photosynthesis, which are full of stages and steps. If you can swap the word for “unsettle” or “worry,” choose faze; if you can swap it for “a stage” or “a period,” choose phase.
Faze or Phase?
Three questions — choose the correct word for each sentence.
1. “Nothing ___s her.” (to disturb or unsettle)
2. “We’re in a difficult ___ of the project.” (a stage in a process)
3. “He wasn’t ___d by the criticism.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between faze and phase?
Faze and phase sound exactly the same but mean completely different things. Faze is a verb meaning to disturb, unsettle, or worry someone: the criticism didn't faze her. Phase is usually a noun meaning a stage in a process: the first phase of the plan, a difficult phase. A simple test: if the word means "unsettle" or "worry," use faze; if it means "a stage" or "a period," use phase.
Are faze and phase homophones?
Yes. Faze and phase are homophones, which means they are pronounced exactly the same way — both /feɪz/ — but they are spelled differently and have different meanings. Because they sound identical, you cannot tell them apart by listening; you can only tell them apart in writing by the spelling and by the meaning of the sentence. This is why they are so easy to mix up.
Is it "it didn't faze me" or "it didn't phase me"?
The correct version is "it didn't faze me." Here you mean that something did not disturb or unsettle you, which is the verb faze. Writing "it didn't phase me" is one of the most common spelling mistakes in English, because phase is the more familiar word. But phase is about stages, not feelings, so whenever you mean "it didn't bother me," the spelling is faze.
What does "faze" mean?
Faze is a verb meaning to disturb, unsettle, frighten, or worry someone so that they lose their calm or confidence. It is most often used in the negative: nothing fazes her, the setback didn't faze him. The adjective form is unfazed, meaning not unsettled: she remained completely unfazed by the pressure. Faze is always about a person's feelings or composure.
What does "phase" mean?
Phase is usually a noun meaning a distinct stage or period in a process of change or development: the first phase of the project, a difficult phase in her life. It also describes the moon's changing shapes, as in the phases of the moon. As a verb, it appears in phase in (to introduce gradually) and phase out (to remove gradually), as in phase out single-use plastics.
Why do people confuse faze and phase?
People confuse them because they are pronounced exactly the same and because phase is by far the more common word. When writers want to say "it didn't unsettle me," their hand reaches for the familiar spelling phase. But the two words are unrelated: faze is about disturbing someone's feelings, while phase is about a stage. Pausing to check the meaning is the best way to avoid the slip.
Is "phase out" spelled with f or ph?
Phase out is always spelled with ph. As a verb, phase means to introduce or remove something gradually, in stages: the company will phase out the old models, and phase in the new ones. This sense is closely linked to the noun phase, meaning a stage, so it keeps the ph spelling. There is no verb "faze out" — faze only means to unsettle someone.
What does "unfazed" mean and how is it spelled?
Unfazed means not disturbed, not worried, or not put off — staying calm despite a difficult situation: she was completely unfazed by the criticism. It is spelled with a z, because it comes from the verb faze. Be careful not to write "unphased," which is a common error. If a person stays calm and unbothered, they are unfazed, with a z.
How can I remember which spelling to use?
A useful trick is to link faze, with its rare letter z, to a sudden "zap" that jolts your nerves and unsettles you. Link phase, which begins with ph, to staged words such as physics and photosynthesis. If you can replace the word with "unsettle" or "worry," choose faze; if you can replace it with "a stage" or "a period," choose phase. Checking the meaning is the surest method.
Can "phase" describe a temporary stage in someone's behaviour?
Yes. Phase is often used for a temporary period in someone's life or behaviour, especially one that will pass: he's going through a rebellious phase, or don't worry, it's just a phase. The idea is still a stage in a process of change, so it keeps the ph spelling. This use of phase has nothing to do with faze, which is only about unsettling someone's feelings.
Practice Faze vs Phase
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