# distraction

> English word · Noun · IPA /dɪsˈtɹæk.ʃən/ · frequency rank #9,876

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

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

## Easily confused with
- **destruction** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/destruction-vs-distraction)
- **distinction** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/distinction-vs-distraction)
- **distracting** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/distracting-vs-distraction)
- **diffraction** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/diffraction-vs-distraction)

## Common misspellings (18)
`ddistraction`, `disrtaction`, `disstraction`, `distarction`, `distracction`, `distraciton`, `distracsion`, `distractino`, `distractionn`, `distractoin`, `distracttion`, `distratcion`, `distrcation`, `distrraction`, `disttraction`, `ditsraction`, `dsitraction`, `idstraction`

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