fixation

/fɪksˈeɪʃən/

//fɪksˈeɪʃən// noun

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

"fixation" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“fixation” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #20,357 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#20,357
frequency rank, English
8
letters
12
tracked misspellings
1
confusable pair

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

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

fixation vs fiction
75% similar

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

Key facts for fixation
PropertyValue
Headwordfixation
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/fɪksˈeɪʃən/
Letters8
Frequency rank#20,357
Misspellings tracked12
Confusable pairs1
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “fixation” 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). fixation 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 fixation is 8 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /fɪksˈeɪʃən/. Corpus data places it at rank #20,357 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 12 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 12 likely wrong-spelling variants for fixation, with forms such as "ffixation", "fiaxtion", and "fixaiton". 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, "fiction", since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Old French fixation. By surface analysis, fix + -ation. The correct English form is fixation, spelled F-I-X-A-T-I-O-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    The act of fixing.
  2. 2
    The state of being fixed or fixated.
  3. 3
    The act of uniting chemically with a solid substance or in a solid form; reduction to a non-volatile condition; -- said of volatile elements.
  4. 4
    The act or process of ceasing to be fluid and becoming firm.
  5. 5
    In metals, a state of resistance to evaporation or volatilization by heat.
  6. 6
    A state of mind involving obsession with a particular person, idea, or thing.
  7. 7
    A state of mind involving obsession with a particular person, idea, or thing.
  8. 8
    Recording a creative work in a medium of expression for more than a transitory duration, thereby satisfying the "fixation" requirement for the purposes of copyright law.
  9. 9
    The change in a gene pool from a situation where there exists at least two variants of a particular gene (allele) to a situation where only one of the alleles remains.
  10. 10
    preservation of biological tissues from decay due to autolysis or putrefaction.
  11. 11
    process by which an injury is rendered immobile.
  12. 12
    maintaining of the gaze on a single location.

Etymology

From Old French fixation. By surface analysis, fix + -ation.

Synonyms

fixedness

Antonyms

movementchange

This word in other languages

fijación(Español)fixation(Français)Fixierung(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ffixation,fiaxtion,fixaiton,fixasion,fixatino,fixationn,fixatoin,fixattion,fixtaion,fixxation,fxiation,ifxation

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

ffixation1fiaxtion2fixaiton2fixasion1fixatino2fixationn1fixatoin2fixattion1
Edit distance from "fixation"

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 "fixation"?
"fixation" is spelled F-I-X-A-T-I-O-N. The IPA pronunciation is /fɪksˈeɪʃən/.
What does "fixation" mean?
As a noun, "fixation" means: The act of fixing.
What words are commonly confused with "fixation"?
"fixation" is commonly confused with "fiction". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "fixation"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "fixation" is /fɪksˈeɪʃən/. 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 "fixation"?
From Old French fixation. By surface analysis, fix + -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 “fixation”

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

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