allocation

/ˌæl.əˈkeɪ.ʃən/

//ˌæl.əˈkeɪ.ʃən// noun

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

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

The verdict

“allocation” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #10,483 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#10,483
frequency rank, English
10
letters
13
tracked misspellings
1
confusable pair

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The process or procedure for allocating things, especially money or other resources.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

allocation vs allegation
80% similar

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

Key facts for allocation
PropertyValue
Headwordallocation
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˌæl.əˈkeɪ.ʃən/
Letters10
Frequency rank#10,483
Misspellings tracked13
Confusable pairs1
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “allocation” 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). allocation 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 allocation is 10 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˌæl.əˈkeɪ.ʃən/. Corpus data places it at rank #10,483 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 13 likely wrong-spelling variants for allocation, with forms such as "allcoation", "alloaction", and "allocaiton". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. It also participates in 1 confusable-pair relationship, "allegation", where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle French allocacion, from Medieval Latin allocātiō. By surface analysis, allocate + -ion. The correct English form is allocation, spelled A-L-L-O-C-A-T-I-O-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    The process or procedure for allocating things, especially money or other resources.
  2. 2
    That which is allocated; allowance, entitlement.
  3. 3
    Restriction of an embryonic cell and its clonal descendants to a particular cell type or body region.

Etymology

From Middle French allocacion, from Medieval Latin allocātiō. By surface analysis, allocate + -ion.

This word in other languages

asignación(Español)allocation(Français)Vergabe(Deutsch)alocação(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: allcoation,alloaction,allocaiton,allocasion,allocatino,allocationn,allocatoin,allocattion,alloccation,alloctaion,alocation,alolcation,lalocation

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

allcoation2alloaction2allocaiton2allocasion1allocatino2allocationn1allocatoin2allocattion1
Edit distance from "allocation"

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 "allocation"?
"allocation" is spelled A-L-L-O-C-A-T-I-O-N. The IPA pronunciation is /ˌæl.əˈkeɪ.ʃən/.
What does "allocation" mean?
As a noun, "allocation" means: The process or procedure for allocating things, especially money or other resources.
What words are commonly confused with "allocation"?
"allocation" is commonly confused with "allegation". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "allocation"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "allocation" is /ˌæl.əˈkeɪ.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 "allocation"?
From Middle French allocacion, from Medieval Latin allocātiō. By surface analysis, allocate + -ion. 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 “allocation”

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

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