absolution

/æb.səˈljuː.ʃn̩/

//æb.səˈljuː.ʃn̩// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"absolution" is a 10-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“absolution” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #34,764 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#34,764
frequency rank, English
10
letters
15
tracked misspellings
2
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - An absolving of sins from ecclesiastical penalties by an authority.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

absolution vs absorption
80% similar
absolution vs abolition
80% similar

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

Key facts for absolution
PropertyValue
Headwordabsolution
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/æb.səˈljuː.ʃn̩/
Letters10
Frequency rank#34,764
Misspellings tracked15
Confusable pairs2
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “absolution” sits in English 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). absolution 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 English entry for absolution is 10 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /æb.səˈljuː.ʃn̩/. Corpus data places it at rank #34,764 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 6 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 15 likely wrong-spelling variants for absolution, with forms such as "abbsolution", "aboslution", and "absloution". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 2 confusable-pair relationships, "absorption", "abolition", since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English absolucion, absolucioun, from Old French absolution, from Latin absolūtiōnem, accusative singular of absolūtiō (“acquittal”), from absolvō (“absolve”). See also absolve. The correct English form is absolution, spelled A-B-S-O-L-U-T-I-O-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    An absolving of sins from ecclesiastical penalties by an authority.
  2. 2
    The forgiveness of sins, in a general sense.
  3. 3
    The form of words by which a penitent is absolved.
  4. 4
    An absolving, or setting free from guilt, sin, or penalty; forgiveness of an offense.
  5. 5
    An acquittal, or sentence of a judge declaring an accused person innocent.
  6. 6
    Delivery, in speech.

Etymology

From Middle English absolucion, absolucioun, from Old French absolution, from Latin absolūtiōnem, accusative singular of absolūtiō (“acquittal”), from absolvō (“absolve”). See also absolve.

This word in other languages

absolución(Español)Absolution(Deutsch)absolvição(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: abbsolution,aboslution,absloution,absollution,absoltuion,absoluiton,absolusion,absolutino,absolutionn,absolutoin,absoluttion,absoultion,abssolution,asbolution,basolution

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of absolution - 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.

abbsolution1aboslution2absloution2absollution1absoltuion2absoluiton2absolusion1absolutino2
Edit distance from "absolution"

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 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "absolution"?
"absolution" is spelled A-B-S-O-L-U-T-I-O-N. The IPA pronunciation is /æb.səˈljuː.ʃn̩/.
What does "absolution" mean?
As a noun, "absolution" means: An absolving of sins from ecclesiastical penalties by an authority.
What words are commonly confused with "absolution"?
"absolution" is commonly confused with "absorption", "abolition". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "absolution"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "absolution" is /æb.səˈljuː.ʃn̩/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "absolution"?
From Middle English absolucion, absolucioun, from Old French absolution, from Latin absolūtiōnem, accusative singular of absolūtiō (“acquittal”), from absolvō (“absolve”). See also absolve. See the full etymology section above for more details.
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 “absolution”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is A-B-S-O-L-U-T-I-O-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /æb.səˈljuː.ʃn̩/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “absorption” - see the side-by-side comparison. absolution vs absorption
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English 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