circumcision

/ˌsɜː(ɹ)kəmˈsɪʒən/

//ˌsɜː(ɹ)kəmˈsɪʒən// noun

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

"circumcision" is a 12-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“circumcision” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #22,035 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#22,035
frequency rank, English
12
letters
19
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The surgical excision of the foreskin and usually all or most of the penile frenulum.

Key facts for circumcision
PropertyValue
Headwordcircumcision
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˌsɜː(ɹ)kəmˈsɪʒən/
Letters12
Frequency rank#22,035
Misspellings tracked19
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “circumcision” 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). circumcision 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 circumcision is 12 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˌsɜː(ɹ)kəmˈsɪʒən/. Corpus data places it at rank #22,035 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 5 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 19 likely wrong-spelling variants for circumcision, with forms such as "ccircumcision", "cicrumcision", and "circcumcision". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Latin circumcīsiō(n), from circumcīdō (“cut around”), from circum (“about, around; through”) + caedō (“cut, hew”). The correct English form is circumcision, spelled C-I-R-C-U-M-C-I-S-I-O-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    The surgical excision of the foreskin and usually all or most of the penile frenulum.
  2. 2
    The surgical excision of the foreskin and usually all or most of the penile frenulum.
  3. 3
    The surgical excision of the foreskin and usually all or most of the penile frenulum.
  4. 4
    The surgical excision of the clitoral hood of the clitoris; female circumcision.
  5. 5
    The surgical excision of the clitoris; clitoridectomy.

Etymology

From Latin circumcīsiō(n), from circumcīdō (“cut around”), from circum (“about, around; through”) + caedō (“cut, hew”).

Synonyms

circmale circumcisionposthectomyposthetomy

This word in other languages

circuncisión(Español)circoncision(Français)Beschneidung(Deutsch)circuncisão(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ccircumcision,cicrumcision,circcumcision,circmucision,circucmision,circumccision,circumciison,circumcisino,circumcisionn,circumcisoin,circumcission,circumcition,circumcsiion,circumicsion,circummcision,cirrcumcision,cirucmcision,cricumcision,icrcumcision

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of circumcision - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

ccircumcision1cicrumcision2circcumcision1circmucision2circucmision2circumccision1circumciison2circumcisino2
Edit distance from "circumcision"

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 "circumcision"?
"circumcision" is spelled C-I-R-C-U-M-C-I-S-I-O-N. The IPA pronunciation is /ˌsɜː(ɹ)kəmˈsɪʒən/.
What does "circumcision" mean?
As a noun, "circumcision" means: The surgical excision of the foreskin and usually all or most of the penile frenulum.
What are common misspellings of "circumcision"?
Common misspellings include "ccircumcision", "cicrumcision", "circcumcision", "circmucision", "circucmision". The correct spelling is "circumcision".
How do you pronounce "circumcision"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "circumcision" is /ˌsɜː(ɹ)kəmˈsɪʒən/. 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 "circumcision"?
From Latin circumcīsiō(n), from circumcīdō (“cut around”), from circum (“about, around; through”) + caedō (“cut, hew”). 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 “circumcision”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is C-I-R-C-U-M-C-I-S-I-O-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˌsɜː(ɹ)kəmˈsɪʒən/ (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