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” has 19 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #22,035. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#22,035
frequency rank, English
5,599
“C” headwords
19
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - The surgical excision of the foreskin and usually all or most of the penile frenulum.

Corpus desk

Index EN-circumcision · circumcision · English

circumcision · rank #22,035 · 19 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-MID #22,035
  • LEN-MEGA 12 letters
  • VOW-5 5 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-HIGH 19 variants
  • BOOK-DENSE 5,599
  • PHOTO-FINISH clandestine

Nearest frequency peer: clandestine (+1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Rank peers near misspelling magnet “circumcision”

Same rarity band: useful when a typo lands on a peer headword

corpus weight

What this shows “circumcision” sits among these FrequencyWords peers; misspelling depth is tracked separately in the edit-distance chart.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026
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)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “circumcision”

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right).circumcisionlands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Same rarity band neighbours include “clandestine” (#22,036), “chihuahua” (#22,033), “clarifying” (#22,037). Among 5,599 “C” headwords, “circumcision” is #22,035. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 19 spelling variants around circumcision (IPA /ˌsɜː(ɹ)kəmˈsɪʒən/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #22,035 among 5,599 “C” headwords. Wiktionary lists 5 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

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.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how circumcision appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. So ſay I , did the Covenant of circumciſion, in that he that was circumciſed was bound to keep the whole Law Gal 5. 3.
  2. I had first to obtain a recommendation from the Assistant Resident to the Regent, and then an order from the Regent to the Waidono; and when after a week's delay I arrived with my baggage and men at Modjo-agong, I found them all in the midst of a five days' feast, to celebrate the circumcision of the Waidono's younger brother and cousin, and had a small r…

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.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "circumcision", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 12 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

Hillsborough#22,111illuminating#22,118nomenclature#22,161preferential#22,178

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (19 here; floor ≥5).

metaphysical19 variantssuperstition19 variantsindividuality19 variantssegmentation19 variants

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list