explanation

Name: explanation, English Word Data
Creator: Wiktionary
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

/ˌɛkspləˈneɪʃən/

//ˌɛkspləˈneɪʃən// noun

By PlainSpell Editorial Team · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) · analyzed May 6, 2026

The verdict

“explanation” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #3,360 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#3,360
frequency rank, English: 11
letters: 17
tracked misspellings: 3
confusable pairs

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

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
Property	Value
Headword	explanation
Language	English
Part of speech	Noun
IPA	/ˌɛkspləˈneɪʃən/
Letters	11
Frequency rank	#3,360
Misspellings tracked	17
Confusable pairs	3
Source	Wiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “explanation” 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). explanation lands here:

#3,360

#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 explanation is 11 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˌɛkspləˈneɪʃən/. Corpus data places it at rank #3,360 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

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

Etymology

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

Synonyms

clarification elucidation elaboration explaining explication femsplaining mansplaining mansplanation

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.

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.

Using “explanation”

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

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