# interception

> English word · Noun · IPA /ɪntɚˈsɛpʃən/ · frequency rank #16,502

## Definitions
1. An act of intercepting something, the state of being intercepted, or a thing that is intercepted.
2. An aeronautical action in which a fighter approaches a suspicious aircraft to escort it away from a prohibited area, or approaches an enemy aircraft to shoot it down.
3. A passing play where the ball is caught by the opposing team.
4. A pass that is intercepted by an opposing player.
5. precipitation that does not reach the soil, but is instead intercepted by the leaves, branches of plants and the forest floor.

## Etymology
Borrowed from Latin interceptiō; compare French interception.

## Easily confused with
- **interceptor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/interception-vs-interceptor)
- **intervention** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/interception-vs-intervention)
- **intersection** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/interception-vs-intersection)
- **interruption** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/interception-vs-interruption)
- **intercession** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/interception-vs-intercession)

## Common misspellings (19)
`inetrception`, `innterception`, `intecreption`, `intercception`, `intercepiton`, `intercepption`, `intercepsion`, `interceptino`, `interceptionn`, `interceptoin`, `intercepttion`, `intercetpion`, `intercpetion`, `interecption`, `interrception`, `intreception`, `intterception`, `itnerception`, `niterception`

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