animadversion

/ˌænɪmædˈvɜːʒən/

//ˌænɪmædˈvɜːʒən// noun

"animadversion" is a 13-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“animadversion” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a noun - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
13
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A criticism, a critical remark.

Key facts for animadversion
PropertyValue
Headwordanimadversion
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˌænɪmædˈvɜːʒən/
Letters13
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “animadversion” sits in English frequency

animadversion falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for animadversion is 13 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˌænɪmædˈvɜːʒən/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 2 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Zero misspellings are on record for animadversion in our index, a straightforward case of a spelling with little room for common typos. Our dataset records no confusable match here, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle French animadversion and its etymon Latin animadversiō (“observation, criticism”), from animadvertō (“I pay attention”), from animus (“mind”) + advertō (“I turn to”). The correct English form is animadversion, spelled A-N-I-M-A-D-V-E-R-S-I-O-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    A criticism, a critical remark.
  2. 2
    The state or characteristic of being animadversive.

Etymology

From Middle French animadversion and its etymon Latin animadversiō (“observation, criticism”), from animadvertō (“I pay attention”), from animus (“mind”) + advertō (“I turn to”).

This word in other languages

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "animadversion"?
"animadversion" is spelled A-N-I-M-A-D-V-E-R-S-I-O-N. The IPA pronunciation is /ˌænɪmædˈvɜːʒən/.
What does "animadversion" mean?
As a noun, "animadversion" means: A criticism, a critical remark.
How do you pronounce "animadversion"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "animadversion" is /ˌænɪmædˈvɜːʒən/. 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 "animadversion"?
From Middle French animadversion and its etymon Latin animadversiō (“observation, criticism”), from animadvertō (“I pay attention”), from animus (“mind”) + advertō (“I turn to”). 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 “animadversion”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is A-N-I-M-A-D-V-E-R-S-I-O-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˌænɪmædˈvɜːʒən/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • 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