extinction

/ɪkˈstɪŋkʃən/

//ɪkˈstɪŋkʃən// noun

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

"extinction" is a 10-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“extinction” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #10,209 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#10,209
frequency rank, English
10
letters
16
tracked misspellings
1
confusable pair

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The action of making or becoming extinct; annihilation.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

extinction vs extraction
80% similar

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

Key facts for extinction
PropertyValue
Headwordextinction
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ɪkˈstɪŋkʃən/
Letters10
Frequency rank#10,209
Misspellings tracked16
Confusable pairs1
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “extinction” 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). extinction 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 extinction is 10 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɪkˈstɪŋkʃən/. Corpus data places it at rank #10,209 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. 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 extinction, with forms such as "etxinction", "exitnction", and "exticntion". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. It also participates in 1 confusable-pair relationship, "extraction", where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From late Middle English, borrowed from Latin extinctio (“extinction, annihilation”), from extinguere, past participle extinctus (“to extinguish”); see extinguish. The correct English form is extinction, spelled E-X-T-I-N-C-T-I-O-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    The action of making or becoming extinct; annihilation.
  2. 2
    The absorption or scattering of electromagnetic radiation emitted by astronomical objects by intervening dust and gas before it reaches the observer.
  3. 3
    The inability to perceive multiple stimuli simultaneously.
  4. 4
    The fading of a conditioned response over time if it is not reinforced.

Etymology

From late Middle English, borrowed from Latin extinctio (“extinction, annihilation”), from extinguere, past participle extinctus (“to extinguish”); see extinguish.

This word in other languages

extinción(Español)extinction(Français)Aussterben(Deutsch)extinção(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: etxinction,exitnction,exticntion,extincction,extinciton,extincsion,extinctino,extinctionn,extinctoin,extincttion,extinnction,extintcion,extniction,exttinction,exxtinction,xetinction

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

etxinction2exitnction2exticntion2extincction1extinciton2extincsion1extinctino2extinctionn1
Edit distance from "extinction"

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 "extinction"?
"extinction" is spelled E-X-T-I-N-C-T-I-O-N. The IPA pronunciation is /ɪkˈstɪŋkʃən/.
What does "extinction" mean?
As a noun, "extinction" means: The action of making or becoming extinct; annihilation.
What words are commonly confused with "extinction"?
"extinction" is commonly confused with "extraction". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "extinction"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "extinction" is /ɪkˈstɪŋkʃən/. 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 "extinction"?
From late Middle English, borrowed from Latin extinctio (“extinction, annihilation”), from extinguere, past participle extinctus (“to extinguish”); see extinguish. 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 “extinction”

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

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