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” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #15,663 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#15,663
frequency rank, English
10
letters
15
tracked misspellings
2
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The state or quality of being moderate; avoidance of extremes

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)

Where “moderation” 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). moderation 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 moderation is 10 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˌmɑdəˈɹeɪʃən/. Corpus data places it at rank #15,663 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 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.

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.

Using “moderation”

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

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