invention

/ɪnˈvɛnʃən/

//ɪnˈvɛnʃən// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"invention" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“invention” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #6,699 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#6,699
frequency rank, English
9
letters
14
tracked misspellings
11
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Something invented.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

invention vs inventor
78% similar
invention vs inventive
78% similar
invention vs inversion
78% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for invention
PropertyValue
Headwordinvention
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ɪnˈvɛnʃən/
Letters9
Frequency rank#6,699
Misspellings tracked14
Confusable pairs11
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “invention” 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). invention 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 invention is 9 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɪnˈvɛnʃən/. Corpus data places it at rank #6,699 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 5 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 14 likely wrong-spelling variants for invention, with forms such as "inevntion", "innvention", and "inveniton". 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. It also participates in 11 confusable-pair relationships, "inventor", "inventive", "inversion", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English invencion, invencioun, from Latin inventiō either directly or via Middle French invencion, from Latin invenīre (“to discover, find, invent”), from in- (“in-: in, into”) + venīre (“to come”). Doublet of inventio. By surface analysis, inve… The correct English form is invention, spelled I-N-V-E-N-T-I-O-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    Something invented.
  2. 2
    The act of inventing.
  3. 3
    The capacity to invent.
  4. 4
    A small, self-contained composition, particularly those in J.S. Bach’s Two- and Three-part Inventions.
  5. 5
    The act of discovering or finding; the act of finding out; discovery.

Etymology

From Middle English invencion, invencioun, from Latin inventiō either directly or via Middle French invencion, from Latin invenīre (“to discover, find, invent”), from in- (“in-: in, into”) + venīre (“to come”). Doublet of inventio. By surface analysis, invent + -ion. Displaced native Old English orþanc.

Synonyms

discovery

This word in other languages

invención(Español)invention(Français)Erfindung(Deutsch)invenção(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: inevntion,innvention,inveniton,invenntion,invension,inventino,inventionn,inventoin,inventtion,invetnion,invnetion,invvention,ivnention,nivention

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of invention - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

inevntion2innvention1inveniton2invenntion1invension1inventino2inventionn1inventoin2
Edit distance from "invention"

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 "invention"?
"invention" is spelled I-N-V-E-N-T-I-O-N. The IPA pronunciation is /ɪnˈvɛnʃən/.
What does "invention" mean?
As a noun, "invention" means: Something invented.
What words are commonly confused with "invention"?
"invention" is commonly confused with "inventor", "inventive", "inversion". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "invention"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "invention" is /ɪnˈvɛnʃən/. 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 "invention"?
From Middle English invencion, invencioun, from Latin inventiō either directly or via Middle French invencion, from Latin invenīre (“to discover, find, invent”), from in- (“in-: in, into”) + venīre (“to come”). Doublet of inventio. By surface anal... 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 “invention”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is I-N-V-E-N-T-I-O-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ɪnˈvɛnʃən/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “inventor” - see the side-by-side comparison. invention vs inventor
  • 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