# contraption

> English word · Noun · IPA /kənˈtɹæp.ʃən/ · frequency rank #36,090

## Definitions
1. A machine that is complicated and precarious.
2. Any object.

## Etymology
Possibly a Western US English dialectal word of unknown origin. Perhaps from contrive + trap + -tion, while also possibly approximating construction. Chambers suggests contrivance + adaption. Neither Chambers nor Concise Oxford suggests a US origin. Compare cantrip, cantrap (Scots dialect), a wilful piece of trickery.

## Easily confused with
- **contrition** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/contraption-vs-contrition)
- **contraction** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/contraction-vs-contraption)

## Common misspellings (18)
`ccontraption`, `cnotraption`, `conntraption`, `conrtaption`, `contarption`, `contrapiton`, `contrapption`, `contrapsion`, `contraptino`, `contraptionn`, `contraptoin`, `contrapttion`, `contratpion`, `contrpation`, `contrraption`, `conttraption`, `cotnraption`, `ocntraption`

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