electrocution

/ɪˌlɛktɹəˈkjuːʃən/

//ɪˌlɛktɹəˈkjuːʃən// noun

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

"electrocution" is a 13-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“electrocution” has 20 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #48,216. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#48,216
frequency rank, English
2,246
“E” headwords
20
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 2, 2026) - Deliberate execution by electric shock, usually involving an electric chair.

Corpus desk

Index EN-electrocution · electrocution · English

electrocution · rank #48,216 · 20 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-MID #48,216
  • LEN-MEGA 13 letters
  • VOW-6 6 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-HIGH 20 variants
  • BOOK-MID 2,246
  • PHOTO-FINISH Egerton

Nearest frequency peer: Egerton (-1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Frequency neighbourhood for “electrocution”

Lower corpus rank = more everyday usage (inverted bar length for readability)

corpus weight

What this shows Bars show where “electrocution” sits against the nearest ranked English headwords in the FrequencyWords band, not a reprint of letter-browse containment.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 2, 2026
Key facts for electrocution
PropertyValue
Headwordelectrocution
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ɪˌlɛktɹəˈkjuːʃən/
Letters13
Frequency rank#48,216
Misspellings tracked20
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “electrocution” 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). electrocution 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 20 spelling variants around electrocution (IPA /ɪˌlɛktɹəˈkjuːʃən/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #48,216 among 2,246 “E” headwords. Wiktionary lists 3 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 20 likely wrong-spelling variants for electrocution, with forms such as "eelctrocution", "elcetrocution", and "elecctrocution". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

Etymologically, the entry records: Blend of electro- + execution. By surface analysis, electrocute + -ion. Coined in the US around 1888, in relation to the introduction of the electric chair (see quotes). The correct English form is electrocution, spelled E-L-E-C-T-R-O-C-U-T-I-O-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    Deliberate execution by electric shock, usually involving an electric chair.
  2. 2
    The accidental death or suicide by electric shock.
  3. 3
    A severe electric shock, whether fatal or not.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how electrocution appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. A correspondent of The American has taken exception to the use, in a recent paragraph in this column, of the word “electrocution.” The writer of the paragraph referred to is conscious that the word, like other etymological hybrids, lacks euphony and consistency; but during the formative period succeeding the introduction of a new idea not yet provided wit…
  2. Electrothanasia is the new word which is proposed as a substitute for the bungling word “electrocution,” which does not express what it is used for, while the word suggested in place of it, though of Greek origin, expresses exactly what we mean when death is produced by electric action. At the same time it is a very ancient word for modern people to use,…

Etymology

Blend of electro- + execution. By surface analysis, electrocute + -ion. Coined in the US around 1888, in relation to the introduction of the electric chair (see quotes).

This word in other languages

électrocution(Français)Stromschlag(Deutsch)eletrocussão(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • eelctrocution
  • elcetrocution
  • elecctrocution
  • elecrtocution
  • electorcution
  • electrcoution
  • electroccution
  • electroctuion
  • electrocuiton
  • electrocusion
  • electrocutino
  • electrocutionn
  • electrocutoin
  • electrocuttion
  • electrouction
  • electrrocution
  • electtrocution
  • eletcrocution
  • ellectrocution
  • leectrocution

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

eelctrocution2elcetrocution2elecctrocution1elecrtocution2electorcution2electrcoution2electroccution1electroctuion2
Edit distance from "electrocution"

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.

PlainSpell is rendered directly from structured Wiktionary extracts and open word-frequency lists, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of September 2, 2026. Primary sources: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) and FrequencyWords.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "electrocution"?
"electrocution" is spelled E-L-E-C-T-R-O-C-U-T-I-O-N. The IPA pronunciation is /ɪˌlɛktɹəˈkjuːʃən/.
What does "electrocution" mean?
As a noun, "electrocution" means: Deliberate execution by electric shock, usually involving an electric chair.
What are common misspellings of "electrocution"?
Common misspellings include "eelctrocution", "elcetrocution", "elecctrocution", "elecrtocution", "electorcution". The correct spelling is "electrocution".
How do you pronounce "electrocution"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "electrocution" is /ɪˌlɛktɹəˈkjuːʃən/. 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 "electrocution"?
Blend of electro- + execution. By surface analysis, electrocute + -ion. Coined in the US around 1888, in relation to the introduction of the electric chair (see quotes). 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.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "electrocution", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 13 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

forgetfulness#48,243unpretentious#47,991unexplainable#47,986tyrannosaurus#47,980

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (20 here; floor ≥5).

diplomatically20 variantsnonchalantly20 variantssuperposition20 variantsstranglehold20 variants
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