Sanktion

[zaŋkˈt͡si̯oːn]

/[zaŋkˈt͡si̯oːn]/ noun

The verdict

“Sanktion” is a moderately-common German word, ranked #36,002 in German word frequency and used as a noun.

#36,002
frequency rank, German
8
letters
12
tracked misspellings
2
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Bestätigung, Rechtfertigung

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

Sanktion vs Sektion
75% similar
Sanktion vs Sanktionen
80% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for Sanktion
PropertyValue
HeadwordSanktion
LanguageGerman
Part of speechNoun
IPA[zaŋkˈt͡si̯oːn]
Letters8
Frequency rank#36,002
Misspellings tracked12
Confusable pairs2
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “Sanktion” sits in German frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). Sanktion lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The German entry for Sanktion is 8 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as [zaŋkˈt͡si̯oːn]. Corpus data places it at rank #36,002 in overall German word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 12 likely wrong-spelling variants for Sanktion, with forms such as "asnktion", "sakntion", and "sankiton". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 2 confusable-pair relationships, "Sektion", "Sanktionen", since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

This entry carries no recorded etymology, so any spelling logic here comes from how the word's sounds map to letters, not a documented origin story. The correct German form is Sanktion, spelled S-A-N-K-T-I-O-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    Bestätigung, Rechtfertigung
  2. 2
    missbilligende Reaktion auf nicht geduldetes Verhalten
  3. 3
    Bestrafung für Vergehen

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: asnktion,sakntion,sankiton,sankktion,sanktino,sanktionn,sanktoin,sankttion,sannktion,santkion,snaktion,ssanktion

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of Sanktion - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

asnktion2sakntion2sankiton2sankktion1sanktino2sanktionn1sanktoin2sankttion1
Edit distance from "Sanktion"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 German corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "Sanktion"?
"Sanktion" is spelled S-A-N-K-T-I-O-N. The IPA pronunciation is [zaŋkˈt͡si̯oːn].
What does "Sanktion" mean?
As a noun, "Sanktion" means: Bestätigung, Rechtfertigung
What words are commonly confused with "Sanktion"?
"Sanktion" is commonly confused with "Sektion", "Sanktionen". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "Sanktion"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "Sanktion" is [zaŋkˈt͡si̯oːn]. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "Sanktion" come from?
"Sanktion" is a German word. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, and spelling data for this and other words across English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German on PlainSpell.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “Sanktion”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct German spelling is S-A-N-K-T-I-O-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as [zaŋkˈt͡si̯oːn] (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “Sektion” - see the side-by-side comparison. Sanktion vs Sektion
  • Browse more German words and confusable pairs in the same reference. German words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list