# detonation vs detonator

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### detonation
*noun · IPA /dɛtəˈneɪʃən/ · frequency rank #26,749*
An explosion or sudden report made by the near-instantaneous decomposition or combustion of unstable substances. Specifically, combustion that spreads supersonically via shock compression.

### detonator
*noun · IPA /ˈdɛt.ə.neɪ.tə(ɹ)/ · frequency rank #47,576*
A device used to detonate an explosive device etc.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/detonation-vs-detonator