adaptation

/ˌæd.əpˈteɪ.ʃən/

//ˌæd.əpˈteɪ.ʃən// noun

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

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

The verdict

“adaptation” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #6,982 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#6,982
frequency rank, English
10
letters
15
tracked misspellings
1
confusable pair

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The process of adapting something or becoming adapted to a situation; adjustment, modification.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

adaptation vs adaption
80% similar

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

Key facts for adaptation
PropertyValue
Headwordadaptation
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˌæd.əpˈteɪ.ʃən/
Letters10
Frequency rank#6,982
Misspellings tracked15
Confusable pairs1
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “adaptation” 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). adaptation 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 adaptation is 10 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˌæd.əpˈteɪ.ʃən/. Corpus data places it at rank #6,982 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 7 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 adaptation, with forms such as "aadptation", "adapattion", and "adapptation". 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 1 confusable-pair relationship, "adaption", where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From French adaptation, from Medieval Latin adaptātiō, from Latin adaptō (“I fit, adjust, modify; I adapt, fit or adjust to”); see adapt. Equivalent to adapt + -ation. The correct English form is adaptation, spelled A-D-A-P-T-A-T-I-O-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    The process of adapting something or becoming adapted to a situation; adjustment, modification.
  2. 2
    A change that is made or undergone to suit a condition or environment.
  3. 3
    The process of change that an organism undergoes to be better suited to its environment.
  4. 4
    An instance of an organism undergoing change, or the structure or behavior that is changed.
  5. 5
    The process of adapting an artistic work from a different medium.
  6. 6
    An artistic work that has been adapted from a different medium.
  7. 7
    The means by which social groups adapt to different social and physical environments.

Etymology

From French adaptation, from Medieval Latin adaptātiō, from Latin adaptō (“I fit, adjust, modify; I adapt, fit or adjust to”); see adapt. Equivalent to adapt + -ation.

This word in other languages

adaptación(Español)adaptation(Français)Anpassung(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: aadptation,adapattion,adapptation,adaptaiton,adaptasion,adaptatino,adaptationn,adaptatoin,adaptattion,adapttaion,adapttation,adatpation,addaptation,adpatation,daaptation

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of adaptation - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

aadptation2adapattion2adapptation1adaptaiton2adaptasion1adaptatino2adaptationn1adaptatoin2
Edit distance from "adaptation"

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 "adaptation"?
"adaptation" is spelled A-D-A-P-T-A-T-I-O-N. The IPA pronunciation is /ˌæd.əpˈteɪ.ʃən/.
What does "adaptation" mean?
As a noun, "adaptation" means: The process of adapting something or becoming adapted to a situation; adjustment, modification.
What words are commonly confused with "adaptation"?
"adaptation" is commonly confused with "adaption". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "adaptation"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "adaptation" is /ˌæd.əpˈteɪ.ʃən/. 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 "adaptation"?
From French adaptation, from Medieval Latin adaptātiō, from Latin adaptō (“I fit, adjust, modify; I adapt, fit or adjust to”); see adapt. Equivalent to adapt + -ation. 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 “adaptation”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is A-D-A-P-T-A-T-I-O-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˌæd.əpˈteɪ.ʃən/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “adaption” - see the side-by-side comparison. adaptation vs adaption
  • 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