demarcation

/ˌdɛm.ɑːˈkeɪ.ʃən/

//ˌdɛm.ɑːˈkeɪ.ʃən// noun

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

"demarcation" is a 11-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“demarcation” has 17 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #37,412. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#37,412
frequency rank, English
26,416
“D” headwords
17
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The act of marking off a boundary or setting a limit, notably by belligerents signing a treaty or ceasefire.

Key facts for demarcation
PropertyValue
Headworddemarcation
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˌdɛm.ɑːˈkeɪ.ʃən/
Letters11
Frequency rank#37,412
Misspellings tracked17
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “demarcation” 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). demarcation lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 17 spelling variants around demarcation (IPA /ˌdɛm.ɑːˈkeɪ.ʃən/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #37,412 among 26,416 “D” headwords. Wiktionary lists 3 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 17 likely wrong-spelling variants for demarcation, with forms such as "ddemarcation", "deamrcation", and "demacration". 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. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

Etymologically, the entry records: First recorded c.1752, from Spanish línea de demarcación and/or Portuguese linha de demarcação, the demarcation line laid down by the Pope on May 4, 1493, dividing the New World between Spain and Portugal on a line 100 leagues west of the Cape Verde Islands… The correct English form is demarcation, spelled D-E-M-A-R-C-A-T-I-O-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    The act of marking off a boundary or setting a limit, notably by belligerents signing a treaty or ceasefire.
  2. 2
    A limit thus fixed, in full demarcation line.
  3. 3
    Any strictly defined separation.

Etymology

First recorded c.1752, from Spanish línea de demarcación and/or Portuguese linha de demarcação, the demarcation line laid down by the Pope on May 4, 1493, dividing the New World between Spain and Portugal on a line 100 leagues west of the Cape Verde Islands. Both derive from demarcar, from de- + marcar (“to mark”), from Italian marcare, from the same Germanic root as march.

This word in other languages

demarcación(Español)démarcation(Français)Abgrenzung(Deutsch)demarcação(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • ddemarcation
  • deamrcation
  • demacration
  • demaraction
  • demarcaiton
  • demarcasion
  • demarcatino
  • demarcationn
  • demarcatoin
  • demarcattion
  • demarccation
  • demarctaion
  • demarrcation
  • demmarcation
  • demracation
  • dmearcation
  • edmarcation

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of demarcation - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

ddemarcation1deamrcation2demacration2demaraction2demarcaiton2demarcasion1demarcatino2demarcationn1
Edit distance from "demarcation"

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 "demarcation"?
"demarcation" is spelled D-E-M-A-R-C-A-T-I-O-N. The IPA pronunciation is /ˌdɛm.ɑːˈkeɪ.ʃən/.
What does "demarcation" mean?
As a noun, "demarcation" means: The act of marking off a boundary or setting a limit, notably by belligerents signing a treaty or ceasefire.
What are common misspellings of "demarcation"?
Common misspellings include "ddemarcation", "deamrcation", "demacration", "demaraction", "demarcaiton". The correct spelling is "demarcation".
How do you pronounce "demarcation"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "demarcation" is /ˌdɛm.ɑːˈkeɪ.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 "demarcation"?
First recorded c.1752, from Spanish línea de demarcación and/or Portuguese linha de demarcação, the demarcation line laid down by the Pope on May 4, 1493, dividing the New World between Spain and Portugal on a line 100 leagues west of the Cape Ver... 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 “demarcation”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is D-E-M-A-R-C-A-T-I-O-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˌdɛm.ɑːˈkeɪ.ʃən/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Same frequency band

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