complication

/ˌkɒm.plɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/

//ˌkɒm.plɪˈkeɪ.ʃən// noun

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

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

The verdict

“complication” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #19,294 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#19,294
frequency rank, English
12
letters
19
tracked misspellings
1
confusable pair

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The act or process of complicating.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

complication vs compilation
83% similar

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

Key facts for complication
PropertyValue
Headwordcomplication
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˌkɒm.plɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/
Letters12
Frequency rank#19,294
Misspellings tracked19
Confusable pairs1
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “complication” 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). complication 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 complication is 12 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˌkɒm.plɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/. Corpus data places it at rank #19,294 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 6 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 complication, with forms such as "ccomplication", "cmoplication", and "comlpication". 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. It also participates in 1 confusable-pair relationship, "compilation", where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from Middle French complication, from Latin complicatio, complicationem. Morphologically complicate + -ion. The correct English form is complication, spelled C-O-M-P-L-I-C-A-T-I-O-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    The act or process of complicating.
  2. 2
    The state of being complicated; intricate or confused relation of parts; complexity.
  3. 3
    A person who doesn't fit in with the main scheme of things; an interloper.
  4. 4
    A disease or diseases, or adventitious circumstances or conditions, coexistent with and modifying a primary disease, but not necessarily connected with it.
  5. 5
    A feature beyond basic time display in a timepiece.
  6. 6
    A twisting or intertwining.

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French complication, from Latin complicatio, complicationem. Morphologically complicate + -ion.

Synonyms

complicationentanglementintricacysnarlwheel within a wheel

This word in other languages

complicación(Español)complication(Français)Komplikation(Deutsch)complicação(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ccomplication,cmoplication,comlpication,commplication,compilcation,complciation,compliaction,complicaiton,complicasion,complicatino,complicationn,complicatoin,complicattion,compliccation,complictaion,compllication,compplication,copmlication,ocmplication

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

ccomplication1cmoplication2comlpication2commplication1compilcation2complciation2compliaction2complicaiton2
Edit distance from "complication"

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 "complication"?
"complication" is spelled C-O-M-P-L-I-C-A-T-I-O-N. The IPA pronunciation is /ˌkɒm.plɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/.
What does "complication" mean?
As a noun, "complication" means: The act or process of complicating.
What words are commonly confused with "complication"?
"complication" is commonly confused with "compilation". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "complication"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "complication" is /ˌkɒm.plɪˈkeɪ.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 "complication"?
Borrowed from Middle French complication, from Latin complicatio, complicationem. Morphologically complicate + -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 “complication”

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

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