explanation

/ˌɛkspləˈneɪʃən/

//ˌɛkspləˈneɪʃən// noun

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

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

The verdict

“explanation” has 17 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #3,360. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#3,360
frequency rank, English
2,246
“E” headwords
17
tracked misspellings
3
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - The act or process of explaining.

Corpus desk

Index EN-explanation · explanation · English

explanation · rank #3,360 · 17 variants · 3 confusables

  • FREQ-COMMON #3,360
  • LEN-MEGA 11 letters
  • VOW-5 5 vowels
  • CONFUS-LOW 3 pairs
  • VAR-HIGH 17 variants
  • BOOK-MID 2,246
  • PHOTO-FINISH expectations

Nearest frequency peer: expectations (-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.

Rank peers near misspelling magnet “explanation”

Same rarity band: useful when a typo lands on a peer headword

corpus weight

What this shows “explanation” sits among these FrequencyWords peers; misspelling depth is tracked separately in the edit-distance chart.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

explanation vs exploration
82% similar
explanation vs explanations
92% similar
explanation vs exclamation
82% similar

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

Key facts for explanation
PropertyValue
Headwordexplanation
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˌɛkspləˈneɪʃən/
Letters11
Frequency rank#3,360
Misspellings tracked17
Confusable pairs3
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “explanation”

This scale runs from the tiny cluster of words that carry ordinary speech (left) to the long tail of words almost nobody reaches for (right).explanationlands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Same rarity band neighbours include “expectations” (#3,359), “exposure” (#3,361), “deeply” (#3,358). Among 2,246 “E” headwords, “explanation” is #3,360. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 17 spelling variants around explanation (IPA /ˌɛkspləˈneɪʃən/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #3,360 among 2,246 “E” headwords. Wiktionary lists 3 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 17 likely wrong-spelling variants for explanation, with forms such as "epxlanation", "exlpanation", and "expalnation". 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, "exploration", "explanations", "exclamation", a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Latin explanatio (“an explanation, interpretation”), from explanare (“explain”); see explain. Morphologically explain + -ation. Displaced native Old English racu. The correct English form is explanation, spelled E-X-P-L-A-N-A-T-I-O-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    The act or process of explaining.
  2. 2
    Something that explains or makes understandable.
  3. 3
    A resolution of disputed points pursuant to discussion; a mutual clarification of disputed points; reconciliation.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

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

  1. The explanation was long and drawn-out.
  2. An explanation for the UFO sightings was easily found.

Etymology

From Latin explanatio (“an explanation, interpretation”), from explanare (“explain”); see explain. Morphologically explain + -ation. Displaced native Old English racu.

Synonyms

clarificationelucidationelaborationexplainingexplicationfemsplainingmansplainingmansplanation

This word in other languages

explicación(Español)explication(Français)Erläuterung(Deutsch)explicação(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • epxlanation
  • exlpanation
  • expalnation
  • explaantion
  • explanaiton
  • explanasion
  • explanatino
  • explanationn
  • explanatoin
  • explanattion
  • explannation
  • explantaion
  • expllanation
  • explnaation
  • expplanation
  • exxplanation
  • xeplanation

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of explanation - 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.

epxlanation2exlpanation2expalnation2explaantion2explanaiton2explanasion1explanatino2explanationn1
Edit distance from "explanation"

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 "explanation"?
"explanation" is spelled E-X-P-L-A-N-A-T-I-O-N. The IPA pronunciation is /ˌɛkspləˈneɪʃən/.
What does "explanation" mean?
As a noun, "explanation" means: The act or process of explaining.
What words are commonly confused with "explanation"?
"explanation" is commonly confused with "exploration", "explanations", "exclamation". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "explanation"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "explanation" is /ˌɛkspləˈneɪʃən/. 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 "explanation"?
From Latin explanatio (“an explanation, interpretation”), from explanare (“explain”); see explain. Morphologically explain + -ation. Displaced native Old English racu. 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 "explanation", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 11 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

replacement#3,389publication#3,328photography#3,325governments#3,303

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (17 here; floor ≥5).

enforcement17 variantselectricity17 variantsrecognition17 variantscomplicated17 variants

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list