flagellation

/ˌflæd͡ʒəˈleɪʃən/

//ˌflæd͡ʒəˈleɪʃən// noun

"flagellation" is a 12-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“flagellation” is uncommon English (frequency #69,051 among 2,507 “F” headwords), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#69,051
frequency rank, English
2,507
“F” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - Beating, or an instance of beating, consisting of lashes, notably as corporal punishment or mortification, such as a whipping or scourging.

Corpus desk

Index EN-flagellation · flagellation · English

flagellation · rank #69,051 · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-RARE #69,051
  • LEN-MEGA 12 letters
  • VOW-5 5 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-MID 2,507
  • PHOTO-FINISH fka

Nearest frequency peer: fka (-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.

Long-tail ranks near “flagellation”

Sparse band: bars invert rank so rarer forms read shorter

corpus weight

What this shows Long-tail view: where “flagellation” sits against similarly uncommon English ranks.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026
Key facts for flagellation
PropertyValue
Headwordflagellation
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˌflæd͡ʒəˈleɪʃən/
Letters12
Frequency rank#69,051
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “flagellation” in English

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right).flagellationfalls in this rarity band:

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

The axis is logarithmic, with each marked tick roughly ten times rarer than the last. Rare peers in the same band: “fka” (#69,050), “flashcards” (#69,052), “Foch” (#69,054). Among 2,507 “F” headwords, “flagellation” is #69,051. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

flagellation is uncommon English at frequency #69,051 among 2,507 “F” headwords, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˌflæd͡ʒəˈleɪʃən/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. Gloss: "Beating, or an instance of beating, consisting of lashes, notably as corporal punishment or mortification, such as a whipping or scourging.".

No generated misspelling entries exist for flagellation in our index, a straightforward case of a spelling with little room for common typos. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

Etymologically, the entry records: From French flagellation, from Latin flagellatio, from flagellare, from flagellum, diminutive of flagrum (“whip”). The correct English form is flagellation, spelled F-L-A-G-E-L-L-A-T-I-O-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    Beating, or an instance of beating, consisting of lashes, notably as corporal punishment or mortification, such as a whipping or scourging.

Recorded use

Wiktionary example

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

  1. As a means of restoring vigor to the generative organs, flagellation was recommended by the ancient physicians as an effectual remedy, in accordance with the Hippocratic principle of ubi stimulus, ibi affluxus.

Etymology

From French flagellation, from Latin flagellatio, from flagellare, from flagellum, diminutive of flagrum (“whip”).

This word in other languages

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 "flagellation"?
"flagellation" is spelled F-L-A-G-E-L-L-A-T-I-O-N. The IPA pronunciation is /ˌflæd͡ʒəˈleɪʃən/.
What does "flagellation" mean?
As a noun, "flagellation" means: Beating, or an instance of beating, consisting of lashes, notably as corporal punishment or mortification, such as a whipping or scourging.
How do you pronounce "flagellation"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "flagellation" is /ˌflæd͡ʒəˈleɪʃən/. 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 "flagellation"?
From French flagellation, from Latin flagellatio, from flagellare, from flagellum, diminutive of flagrum (“whip”). 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 "flagellation", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 12 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list