examination

/ɪɡˌzæmɪˈneɪʃən/

//ɪɡˌzæmɪˈneɪʃən// noun

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

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

The verdict

“examination” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #4,599 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#4,599
frequency rank, English
11
letters
16
tracked misspellings
1
confusable pair

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The act of examining.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

examination vs elimination
82% similar

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

Key facts for examination
PropertyValue
Headwordexamination
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ɪɡˌzæmɪˈneɪʃən/
Letters11
Frequency rank#4,599
Misspellings tracked16
Confusable pairs1
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “examination” 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). examination 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 examination is 11 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɪɡˌzæmɪˈneɪʃən/. Corpus data places it at rank #4,599 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 4 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 16 likely wrong-spelling variants for examination, with forms such as "eaxmination", "exaimnation", and "examiantion". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 1 confusable-pair relationship, "elimination", since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English examinacioun, from Old French examinacion, from Latin exāminātiō. Morphologically examine + -ation. The correct English form is examination, spelled E-X-A-M-I-N-A-T-I-O-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    The act of examining.
  2. 2
    Particularly, an inspection by a medical professional to establish the extent and nature of any sickness or injury.
  3. 3
    A formal test involving answering written or oral questions under a time constraint and usually without access to textbooks; typically, a large, written test administered to high school and college students covering course material studied in a semester.
  4. 4
    Interrogation, particularly by a lawyer in court or during discovery.

Etymology

From Middle English examinacioun, from Old French examinacion, from Latin exāminātiō. Morphologically examine + -ation.

This word in other languages

examen(Español)examen(Français)Prüfung(Deutsch)exame(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: eaxmination,exaimnation,examiantion,examinaiton,examinasion,examinatino,examinationn,examinatoin,examinattion,examinnation,examintaion,exammination,examniation,exmaination,exxamination,xeamination

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

eaxmination2exaimnation2examiantion2examinaiton2examinasion1examinatino2examinationn1examinatoin2
Edit distance from "examination"

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 "examination"?
"examination" is spelled E-X-A-M-I-N-A-T-I-O-N. The IPA pronunciation is /ɪɡˌzæmɪˈneɪʃən/.
What does "examination" mean?
As a noun, "examination" means: The act of examining.
What words are commonly confused with "examination"?
"examination" is commonly confused with "elimination". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "examination"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "examination" is /ɪɡˌzæmɪˈneɪʃən/. 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 "examination"?
From Middle English examinacioun, from Old French examinacion, from Latin exāminātiō. Morphologically examine + -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 “examination”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is E-X-A-M-I-N-A-T-I-O-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ɪɡˌzæmɪˈneɪʃən/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “elimination” - see the side-by-side comparison. examination vs elimination
  • 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