moderation

/ˌmɑdəˈɹeɪʃən/

//ˌmɑdəˈɹeɪʃən// noun

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

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

The verdict

“moderation” has 15 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #15,663. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#15,663
frequency rank, English
4,057
“M” headwords
15
tracked misspellings
2
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - The state or quality of being moderate; avoidance of extremes

Corpus desk

Index EN-moderation · moderation · English

moderation · rank #15,663 · 15 variants · 2 confusables

  • FREQ-MID #15,663
  • LEN-MEGA 10 letters
  • VOW-5 5 vowels
  • CONFUS-LOW 2 pairs
  • VAR-HIGH 15 variants
  • BOOK-MID 4,057
  • PHOTO-FINISH Miriam

Nearest frequency peer: Miriam (-1 rank slots)

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.

Rank peers near misspelling magnet “moderation”

Same rarity band: useful when a typo lands on a peer headword

corpus weight

What this shows “moderation” sits among these FrequencyWords peers; misspelling depth is tracked separately in the edit-distance chart.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

moderation vs moderator
80% similar
moderation vs modulation
80% similar

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

Key facts for moderation
PropertyValue
Headwordmoderation
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˌmɑdəˈɹeɪʃən/
Letters10
Frequency rank#15,663
Misspellings tracked15
Confusable pairs2
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “moderation”

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right).moderationlands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Ticks step logarithmically, so each one marks a roughly tenfold drop in how often the word turns up. Same rarity band neighbours include “Miriam” (#15,662), “Moroccan” (#15,664), “mermaid” (#15,660). Among 4,057 “M” headwords, “moderation” is #15,663. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 15 spelling variants around moderation (IPA /ˌmɑdəˈɹeɪʃən/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #15,663 among 4,057 “M” headwords. Wiktionary lists 4 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 15 likely wrong-spelling variants for moderation, with forms such as "mdoeration", "mmoderation", and "modderation". 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 2 confusable-pair relationships, "moderator", "modulation", a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle French [Term?], from Old French moderacion, from Latin moderātiō. Morphologically moderate + -ion. The correct English form is moderation, spelled M-O-D-E-R-A-T-I-O-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    The state or quality of being moderate; avoidance of extremes
  2. 2
    An instance of moderating: bringing something away from extremes, especially in a beneficial way
  3. 3
    The process of moderating a discussion
  4. 4
    Usage of neutron moderator to slow down neutrons in a nuclear reactor.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

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

  1. ...It regulates and governs the Passions of the Mind, and brings them into due moderation and frame...
  2. Mr. Chairman, at this moment I stand astonished at my own moderation!

Etymology

From Middle French [Term?], from Old French moderacion, from Latin moderātiō. Morphologically moderate + -ion.

This word in other languages

moderación(Español)modération(Français)Mäßigung(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • mdoeration
  • mmoderation
  • modderation
  • modeartion
  • moderaiton
  • moderasion
  • moderatino
  • moderationn
  • moderatoin
  • moderattion
  • moderration
  • modertaion
  • modreation
  • moedration
  • omderation

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

mdoeration2mmoderation1modderation1modeartion2moderaiton2moderasion1moderatino2moderationn1
Edit distance from "moderation"

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 "moderation"?
"moderation" is spelled M-O-D-E-R-A-T-I-O-N. The IPA pronunciation is /ˌmɑdəˈɹeɪʃən/.
What does "moderation" mean?
As a noun, "moderation" means: The state or quality of being moderate; avoidance of extremes
What words are commonly confused with "moderation"?
"moderation" is commonly confused with "moderator", "modulation". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "moderation"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "moderation" is /ˌmɑdəˈɹeɪʃən/. 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 "moderation"?
From Middle French [Term?], from Old French moderacion, from Latin moderātiō. Morphologically moderate + -ion. 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.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "moderation", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 10 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

memorandum#15,658paranormal#15,674interfaces#15,635heightened#15,627

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (15 here; floor ≥5).

flashback15 variantsunbearable15 variantsterrestrial15 variantsdisclaimer15 variants

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list