# compression

> English word · Noun · IPA /kəmˈpɹɛʃ.ən/ · frequency rank #9,304

## Definitions
1. An increase in density; the act of compressing, or the state of being compressed; compaction.
2. The cycle of an internal combustion engine during which the fuel and air mixture is compressed.
3. The process by which data is compressed.
4. The electronic process by which any sound's gain is automatically controlled.
5. The deviation of a heavenly body from a spherical form.

## Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French compression, from Latin compressiō.

## Easily confused with
- **compressor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/compression-vs-compressor)
- **compressive** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/compression-vs-compressive)
- **compassion** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/compassion-vs-compression)
- **compressing** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/compressing-vs-compression)

## Common misspellings (16)
`ccompression`, `cmopression`, `commpression`, `comperssion`, `comppression`, `compresion`, `compresison`, `compressino`, `compressionn`, `compressoin`, `comprestion`, `comprression`, `comprsesion`, `comrpession`, `copmression`, `ocmpression`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/compression