imprecision

/ˌɪm.pɹɪˈsɪʒ.ən/

//ˌɪm.pɹɪˈsɪʒ.ən// noun

"imprecision" is a 11-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“imprecision” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
11
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - A lack of precision or exactness; poor accuracy.

Corpus desk

Index EN-imprecision · imprecision · English

imprecision · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
  • LEN-MEGA 11 letters
  • VOW-5 5 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-THIN "I" thin
  • PHOTO-UNK Peer pending

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.

Key facts for imprecision
PropertyValue
Headwordimprecision
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˌɪm.pɹɪˈsɪʒ.ən/
Letters11
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “imprecision” in English

imprecisionranks outside the top 100,000 English headwords, in the long tail of specialist, archaic, or seldom-used vocabulary, exactly the territory where a reader stops mid-sentence to double-check spelling.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

imprecision is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˌɪm.pɹɪˈsɪʒ.ən/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. Gloss: "A lack of precision or exactness; poor accuracy.".

Zero misspellings are on record for imprecision in our index, since its letter pattern doesn't lend itself to common typo substitutions. 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 im- + precision. The correct English form is imprecision, spelled I-M-P-R-E-C-I-S-I-O-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    A lack of precision or exactness; poor accuracy.

Recorded use

Wiktionary example

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

  1. The imprecision with which Classical authors grouped various peoples of North-Africa together under terms like Afri or Punici.

Etymology

From im- + precision.

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). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "imprecision"?
"imprecision" is spelled I-M-P-R-E-C-I-S-I-O-N. The IPA pronunciation is /ˌɪm.pɹɪˈsɪʒ.ən/.
What does "imprecision" mean?
As a noun, "imprecision" means: A lack of precision or exactness; poor accuracy.
How do you pronounce "imprecision"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "imprecision" is /ˌɪm.pɹɪˈsɪʒ.ən/. 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 "imprecision"?
From im- + precision. 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.

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list