evolution

/ˌiːvəˈluːʃ(ə)n/

//ˌiːvəˈluːʃ(ə)n// noun

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

"evolution" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“evolution” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #3,560 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#3,560
frequency rank, English
9
letters
13
tracked misspellings
3
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A change of position.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

evolution vs evolutions
90% similar
evolution vs evocation
78% similar
evolution vs evaluation
80% similar

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

Key facts for evolution
PropertyValue
Headwordevolution
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˌiːvəˈluːʃ(ə)n/
Letters9
Frequency rank#3,560
Misspellings tracked13
Confusable pairs3
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “evolution” 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). evolution 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 evolution is 9 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˌiːvəˈluːʃ(ə)n/. Corpus data places it at rank #3,560 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 10 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 13 likely wrong-spelling variants for evolution, with forms such as "eovlution", "evloution", and "evollution". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 3 confusable-pair relationships, "evolutions", "evocation", "evaluation", since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from Latin ēvolūtiō, ēvolūtiōnis (“the act of unrolling, unfolding or opening (of a book)”), from ēvolūtus, perfect passive participle of ēvolvō (“unroll, unfold”), from ex + volvō (“roll”). Compare typologically Czech vývoj, Serbo-Croatian развој,… The correct English form is evolution, spelled E-V-O-L-U-T-I-O-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    A change of position.
  2. 2
    A change of position.
  3. 3
    A change of position.
  4. 4
    An unfolding.
  5. 5
    An unfolding.
  6. 6
    An unfolding.
  7. 7
    An unfolding.
  8. 8
    Process of development.
  9. 9
    Process of development.
  10. 10
    Process of development.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin ēvolūtiō, ēvolūtiōnis (“the act of unrolling, unfolding or opening (of a book)”), from ēvolūtus, perfect passive participle of ēvolvō (“unroll, unfold”), from ex + volvō (“roll”). Compare typologically Czech vývoj, Serbo-Croatian развој, Russian разви́ть (razvítʹ), развива́ть (razvivátʹ), разви́ться (razvítʹsja), развива́ться (razvivátʹsja), Russian разви́тие (razvítije), related to Proto-Slavic *viti (whence Czech vít, Russian вить (vitʹ)).

Antonyms

stagnationrevolutionextinction

This word in other languages

evolución(Español)évolution(Français)Evolution(Deutsch)evolução(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: eovlution,evloution,evollution,evoltuion,evoluiton,evolusion,evolutino,evolutionn,evolutoin,evoluttion,evoultion,evvolution,veolution

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of evolution - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

eovlution2evloution2evollution1evoltuion2evoluiton2evolusion1evolutino2evolutionn1
Edit distance from "evolution"

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 "evolution"?
"evolution" is spelled E-V-O-L-U-T-I-O-N. The IPA pronunciation is /ˌiːvəˈluːʃ(ə)n/.
What does "evolution" mean?
As a noun, "evolution" means: A change of position.
What words are commonly confused with "evolution"?
"evolution" is commonly confused with "evolutions", "evocation", "evaluation". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "evolution"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "evolution" is /ˌiːvəˈluːʃ(ə)n/. 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 "evolution"?
Borrowed from Latin ēvolūtiō, ēvolūtiōnis (“the act of unrolling, unfolding or opening (of a book)”), from ēvolūtus, perfect passive participle of ēvolvō (“unroll, unfold”), from ex + volvō (“roll”). Compare typologically Czech vývoj, Serbo-Croati... 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 “evolution”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is E-V-O-L-U-T-I-O-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˌiːvəˈluːʃ(ə)n/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “evolutions” - see the side-by-side comparison. evolution vs evolutions
  • 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