ignition

/ɪɡˈnɪʃən/

//ɪɡˈnɪʃən// noun

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

The verdict

“ignition” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #11,557 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#11,557
frequency rank, English
8
letters
12
tracked misspellings

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

Key facts for ignition
PropertyValue
Headwordignition
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ɪɡˈnɪʃən/
Letters8
Frequency rank#11,557
Misspellings tracked12
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “ignition” 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). ignition 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 ignition is 8 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɪɡˈnɪʃən/. Corpus data places it at rank #11,557 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 5 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 ignition, with forms such as "ginition", "iggnition", and "igintion". 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. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

Etymologically, the entry records: From French ignition. The correct English form is ignition, spelled I-G-N-I-T-I-O-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    The act of igniting.
  2. 2
    The initiation of combustion.
  3. 3
    A system for activating combustion in a combustion engine.
  4. 4
    Receptacle for a key used to start the engine in a vehicle.
  5. 5
    The phenomenon of a thermonuclear fusion reaction becoming self-sustaining and no longer requiring external heating.

Etymology

From French ignition.

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ginition,iggnition,igintion,igniiton,ignision,ignitino,ignitionn,ignitoin,ignittion,ignnition,igntiion,ingition

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of ignition - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

ginition2iggnition1igintion2igniiton2ignision1ignitino2ignitionn1ignitoin2
Edit distance from "ignition"

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 "ignition"?
"ignition" is spelled I-G-N-I-T-I-O-N. The IPA pronunciation is /ɪɡˈnɪʃən/.
What does "ignition" mean?
As a noun, "ignition" means: The act of igniting.
What are common misspellings of "ignition"?
Common misspellings include "ginition", "iggnition", "igintion", "igniiton", "ignision". The correct spelling is "ignition".
How do you pronounce "ignition"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "ignition" is /ɪɡˈnɪʃən/. 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 "ignition"?
From French ignition. 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 “ignition”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is I-G-N-I-T-I-O-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ɪɡˈnɪʃən/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • 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