# description

> English word · Noun · IPA /dɪˈskɹɪpʃən/ · frequency rank #1,894

## Definitions
1. A sketch or account of anything in words; a portraiture or representation in language; an enumeration of the essential qualities of a thing or species.
2. The act of describing; a delineation by marks or signs.
3. A set of characteristics by which someone or something can be recognized.
4. A scientific documentation of a taxon for the purpose of introducing it to science.
5. The act or practice of recording and describing actual language usage in a given speech community, as opposed to prescription, i.e. laying down norms of language usage.
6. A descriptive linguistic survey.

## Etymology
From Middle English descripcioun, from Old French description and its etymon, Latin dēscrīptiō, noun of action of dēscrībō (“to describe”). Equivalent to describe + -tion.

## Easily confused with
- **descriptor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/description-vs-descriptor)
- **descriptive** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/description-vs-descriptive)
- **decryption** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/decryption-vs-description)

## Common misspellings (18)
`ddescription`, `decsription`, `desccription`, `descirption`, `descripiton`, `descripption`, `descripsion`, `descriptino`, `descriptionn`, `descriptoin`, `descripttion`, `descritpion`, `descrpition`, `descrription`, `desrciption`, `desscription`, `dsecription`, `edscription`

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