# exploration

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˌɛkspləˈɹeɪʃən/ · frequency rank #5,219

## Definitions
1. The process of exploring.
2. The process of penetrating, or ranging over for purposes of (especially geographical) discovery.
3. The (pre-)mining process of finding and determining commercially viable ore deposits (after prospecting), also called mineral exploration.
4. A physical examination of a patient.

## Etymology
From Middle French exploration, from Latin exploratio. Morphologically explore + -ation.

## Easily confused with
- **expiration** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/expiration-vs-exploration)
- **explanation** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/explanation-vs-exploration)
- **exploitation** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/exploitation-vs-exploration)

## Common misspellings (17)
`epxloration`, `exlporation`, `explloration`, `exploartion`, `exploraiton`, `explorasion`, `exploratino`, `explorationn`, `exploratoin`, `explorattion`, `explorration`, `explortaion`, `explroation`, `expolration`, `expploration`, `exxploration`, `xeploration`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/exploration