combination
/ˌkɑmbɪˈneɪʃən/noun
combination is spelled C-O-M-B-I-N-A-T-I-O-N: 11 letters and 4 syllables. It appears 41 times per million words in written English, the 2,438th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, combination means “The act of combining, the state of being combined or the result of combining” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of combination is combinations.
How many letters and syllables are in combination?
| Letters | 11: C-O-M-B-I-N-A-T-I-O-N |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 4 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 41 times per million words; the 2,438th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Rhymes with |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is combination?
Combination appears 41 times per million words in written English, the 2,438th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce combination?
- UK /ˌkɒmbɪˈneɪʃən/
- US /ˌkɑmbɪˈneɪʃən/
Combination has 4 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-us-combination.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with combination?
The 12 most written words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as combination from its last stressed vowel (/eɪʃən/):
- situation
- association
- population
- administration
- operation
- organization
- application
- location
- generation
- foundation
- conversation
- investigation
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of combination
- combinations plural
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does combination mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
The act of combining, the state of being combined or the result of combining.
combinations of colors
- 2
An object formed by combining.
The chef experimented with new flavor combinations.
- 3
A sequence of numbers or letters used to open a combination lock.
The combination to their safe was the date of birth of their first child.
- 4
One or more elements selected from a set without regard to the order of selection.
- 5
An association or alliance of people for some common purpose.
- 6
A shot where the cue ball hits a ball that strikes another ball on the table.
- 7
A motorcycle and sidecar.
- 8
A rapid sequence of punches or strikes in boxing or other combat sports.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
How do you abbreviate combination?
Wiktionary records 2 abbreviations of combination: comb, combi.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Combination in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | combinaison , sélection , association |
| German | Kombinieren , Kombination, Kombinierte, Kombinat |
| Portuguese | combinação |
| Spanish | combinación |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does combination come from?
From Middle English combinacioun, combynacyoun, from Old French combination, from Late Latin combīnātiō. Morphologically combine + -ation.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).