dispensation

/dɪsˌpɛnˈseɪʃən/

//dɪsˌpɛnˈseɪʃən// noun

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

"dispensation" is a 12-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“dispensation” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #34,859 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#34,859
frequency rank, English
12
letters
19
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The act of dispensing or dealing out; distribution

Key facts for dispensation
PropertyValue
Headworddispensation
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/dɪsˌpɛnˈseɪʃən/
Letters12
Frequency rank#34,859
Misspellings tracked19
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “dispensation” 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). dispensation lands here:

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

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

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for dispensation is 12 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /dɪsˌpɛnˈseɪʃən/. Corpus data places it at rank #34,859 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 6 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 19 likely wrong-spelling variants for dispensation, with forms such as "ddispensation", "dipsensation", and "disepnsation". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. Our dataset records no confusable match here, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Old French despensacion, from Latin dispensātiō. By surface analysis, dispens(e) + -ation. The correct English form is dispensation, spelled D-I-S-P-E-N-S-A-T-I-O-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    The act of dispensing or dealing out; distribution
  2. 2
    The distribution of good and evil by God to man.
  3. 3
    That which is dispensed, dealt out, or given; that which is bestowed on someone
  4. 4
    A system of principles, promises, and rules ordained and administered; scheme; economy
  5. 5
    The relaxation of a law in a particular case; permission to do something forbidden, or to omit doing something enjoined; exemption.
  6. 6
    The relaxation of a law in a particular case; permission to do something forbidden, or to omit doing something enjoined; exemption.

Etymology

From Old French despensacion, from Latin dispensātiō. By surface analysis, dispens(e) + -ation.

This word in other languages

dispensación(Español)dérogation(Français)Gegebenheiten(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ddispensation,dipsensation,disepnsation,dispenastion,dispennsation,dispensaiton,dispensasion,dispensatino,dispensationn,dispensatoin,dispensattion,dispenssation,dispenstaion,dispesnation,dispnesation,disppensation,disspensation,dsipensation,idspensation

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

ddispensation1dipsensation2disepnsation2dispenastion2dispennsation1dispensaiton2dispensasion1dispensatino2
Edit distance from "dispensation"

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 "dispensation"?
"dispensation" is spelled D-I-S-P-E-N-S-A-T-I-O-N. The IPA pronunciation is /dɪsˌpɛnˈseɪʃən/.
What does "dispensation" mean?
As a noun, "dispensation" means: The act of dispensing or dealing out; distribution
What are common misspellings of "dispensation"?
Common misspellings include "ddispensation", "dipsensation", "disepnsation", "dispenastion", "dispennsation". The correct spelling is "dispensation".
How do you pronounce "dispensation"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "dispensation" is /dɪsˌpɛnˈseɪʃən/. 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 "dispensation"?
From Old French despensacion, from Latin dispensātiō. By surface analysis, dispens(e) + -ation. 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 “dispensation”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is D-I-S-P-E-N-S-A-T-I-O-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /dɪsˌpɛnˈseɪʃən/ (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
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