# abortion

> English word · Noun · IPA /əˈbɔɹ.ʃn̩/ · frequency rank #4,733

## Definitions
1. The expulsion from the womb of a foetus or embryo before it is fully developed, with loss of the foetus.
2. The expulsion from the womb of a foetus or embryo before it is fully developed, with loss of the foetus.
3. An aborted foetus; an abortus.
4. A misshapen person or thing; a monstrosity.
5. Failure or abandonment of a project, promise, goal etc.
6. Arrest of development of any organ, so that it remains an imperfect formation or is absorbed.
7. The cessation of an illness or disease at a very early stage.

## Etymology
From Latin abortiōnem (“miscarriage, abortion”), from aborior (“to miscarry”). Equivalent to abort + -ion. Displaced native Old English ǣwyrp (literally “throwing out, rejection”).

## Easily confused with
- **adoption** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/abortion-vs-adoption)
- **abortive** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/abortion-vs-abortive)
- **adoration** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/abortion-vs-adoration)
- **absorption** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/abortion-vs-absorption)
- **ablation** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ablation-vs-abortion)
- **abolition** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/abolition-vs-abortion)

## Common misspellings (12)
`abbortion`, `aboriton`, `aborrtion`, `aborsion`, `abortino`, `abortionn`, `abortoin`, `aborttion`, `abotrion`, `abrotion`, `aobrtion`, `baortion`

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