# instigation

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˌɪnstɪˈɡeɪʃən/ · frequency rank #44,272

## Definitions
1. The act of instigating, or the state of being instigated; incitement; especially to evil or wickedness.

## Etymology
From Middle English instigacioun, from Old French instigacïon and Latin instīgātio.

## Easily confused with
- **instigator** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/instigation-vs-instigator)
- **institution** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/instigation-vs-institution)
- **investigation** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/instigation-vs-investigation)
- **initiation** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/initiation-vs-instigation)
- **inspiration** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/inspiration-vs-instigation)

## Common misspellings (17)
`innstigation`, `insitgation`, `insstigation`, `instgiation`, `instiagtion`, `instigaiton`, `instigasion`, `instigatino`, `instigationn`, `instigatoin`, `instigattion`, `instiggation`, `instigtaion`, `insttigation`, `intsigation`, `isntigation`, `nistigation`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/instigation