distraction

/dɪsˈtɹæk.ʃən/

//dɪsˈtɹæk.ʃən// noun

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

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

The verdict

“distraction” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #9,876 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#9,876
frequency rank, English
11
letters
18
tracked misspellings
4
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Something that distracts.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

distraction vs destruction
82% similar
distraction vs distinction
82% similar
distraction vs distracting
82% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for distraction
PropertyValue
Headworddistraction
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/dɪsˈtɹæk.ʃən/
Letters11
Frequency rank#9,876
Misspellings tracked18
Confusable pairs4
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “distraction” 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). distraction 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 distraction is 11 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /dɪsˈtɹæk.ʃən/. Corpus data places it at rank #9,876 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 5 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 18 likely wrong-spelling variants for distraction, with forms such as "ddistraction", "disrtaction", and "disstraction". 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. It also participates in 4 confusable-pair relationships, "destruction", "distinction", "distracting", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from Middle French distraction, from Latin distractio. Equivalent to distract + -ion. The correct English form is distraction, spelled D-I-S-T-R-A-C-T-I-O-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    Something that distracts.
  2. 2
    The process of being distracted.
  3. 3
    Perturbation; disorder; disturbance; confusion.
  4. 4
    Mental disarray; a deranged state of mind; insanity.
  5. 5
    Traction so exerted as to separate surfaces normally opposed.

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French distraction, from Latin distractio. Equivalent to distract + -ion.

This word in other languages

distracción(Español)distraction(Français)Ablenkung(Deutsch)distração(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ddistraction,disrtaction,disstraction,distarction,distracction,distraciton,distracsion,distractino,distractionn,distractoin,distracttion,distratcion,distrcation,distrraction,disttraction,ditsraction,dsitraction,idstraction

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of distraction - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

ddistraction1disrtaction2disstraction1distarction2distracction1distraciton2distracsion1distractino2
Edit distance from "distraction"

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 "distraction"?
"distraction" is spelled D-I-S-T-R-A-C-T-I-O-N. The IPA pronunciation is /dɪsˈtɹæk.ʃən/.
What does "distraction" mean?
As a noun, "distraction" means: Something that distracts.
What words are commonly confused with "distraction"?
"distraction" is commonly confused with "destruction", "distinction", "distracting". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "distraction"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "distraction" is /dɪsˈtɹæk.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 "distraction"?
Borrowed from Middle French distraction, from Latin distractio. Equivalent to distract + -ion. 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 “distraction”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is D-I-S-T-R-A-C-T-I-O-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /dɪsˈtɹæk.ʃən/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “destruction” - see the side-by-side comparison. distraction vs destruction
  • 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