limitation

/lɪmɪˈteɪʃən/

//lɪmɪˈteɪʃən// noun

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

"limitation" is a 10-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“limitation” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #11,060 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#11,060
frequency rank, English
10
letters
15
tracked misspellings
2
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The act of limiting or the state of being limited.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

limitation vs litigation
80% similar
limitation vs limitations
91% similar

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

Key facts for limitation
PropertyValue
Headwordlimitation
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/lɪmɪˈteɪʃən/
Letters10
Frequency rank#11,060
Misspellings tracked15
Confusable pairs2
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “limitation” 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). limitation 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 limitation is 10 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /lɪmɪˈteɪʃən/. Corpus data places it at rank #11,060 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 4 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 15 likely wrong-spelling variants for limitation, with forms such as "ilmitation", "liimtation", and "limiattion". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. It also participates in 2 confusable-pair relationships, "litigation", "limitations", a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from Latin limitatio. Morphologically limit + -ation. The correct English form is limitation, spelled L-I-M-I-T-A-T-I-O-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    The act of limiting or the state of being limited.
  2. 2
    A restriction; a boundary, real or metaphorical, caused by some thing or some circumstance.
  3. 3
    An imperfection or shortcoming that limits something's use or value.
  4. 4
    A time period after which some legal action may no longer be brought.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin limitatio. Morphologically limit + -ation.

Synonyms

prescription

Antonyms

limitlessness

This word in other languages

limitación(Español)limitation(Français)Limitieren(Deutsch)limitação(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ilmitation,liimtation,limiattion,limitaiton,limitasion,limitatino,limitationn,limitatoin,limitattion,limittaion,limittation,limmitation,limtiation,llimitation,lmiitation

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of limitation - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

ilmitation2liimtation2limiattion2limitaiton2limitasion1limitatino2limitationn1limitatoin2
Edit distance from "limitation"

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 "limitation"?
"limitation" is spelled L-I-M-I-T-A-T-I-O-N. The IPA pronunciation is /lɪmɪˈteɪʃən/.
What does "limitation" mean?
As a noun, "limitation" means: The act of limiting or the state of being limited.
What words are commonly confused with "limitation"?
"limitation" is commonly confused with "litigation", "limitations". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "limitation"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "limitation" is /lɪmɪˈteɪʃən/. 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 "limitation"?
Borrowed from Latin limitatio. Morphologically limit + -ation. 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 “limitation”

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

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