# constellation

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˌkɒn.stəˈleɪ.ʃən/ · frequency rank #17,805

## Definitions
1. An arbitrary formation of stars perceived as a figure (especially one from mythology) or pattern, or a division of the sky including it, especially one officially recognized by astronomers; an asterism.
2. An arbitrary formation of stars perceived as a figure (especially one from mythology) or pattern, or a division of the sky including it, especially one officially recognized by astronomers; an asterism.
3. A configuration or grouping of related things.
4. A configuration or grouping of related things.
5. A configuration or grouping of related things.
6. A configuration or grouping of related things.
7. A configuration or grouping of related things.
8. A configuration or grouping of related things.
9. The configuration of planets at a given time (especially a person's birth), as believed to affect events on Earth, or used for determining a horoscope.
10. A person's character or inclinations, supposedly determined by their horoscope.

## Etymology
PIE word
 *ḱóm
From Middle English constellacioun, constillacioun (“(astrology) position of the moon or a planet in relation to the ascendant sign of the zodiac; horoscope; (astronomy) formation of fixed stars, constellation; (astronomy) elevation or position of the sun”) [and other forms], borrowed from Old French constellation (modern French constellation), or directly from its etymon Late Latin cōnstēllātiōnem, the accusative singular of cōnstēllātiō (“collection of stars supposed to exert an influence upon human affairs, constellation”), from Latin con- (prefix denoting a bringing together of several objects) + stēlla (“star; meteor; planet”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂stḗr (“star”)) + -ātiō (suffix forming nouns).

## Easily confused with
- **consternation** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/constellation-vs-consternation)

## Common misspellings (19)
`cconstellation`, `cnostellation`, `connstellation`, `consetllation`, `consstellation`, `constelaltion`, `constelation`, `constellaiton`, `constellasion`, `constellatino`, `constellationn`, `constellatoin`, `constellattion`, `constelltaion`, `constlelation`, `consttellation`, `contsellation`, `cosntellation`, `ocnstellation`

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