# refraction vs retraction

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### refraction
*noun · IPA /ɹəˈfɹækʃən/ · frequency rank #38,582*
The turning or bending of any wave, such as a light or sound wave, when it passes from one medium into another of different optical density.

### retraction
*noun · IPA /ɹɪˈtɹækʃən/ · frequency rank #33,825*
An act or instance of retracting.

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