modification

/ˌmɑdɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/

//ˌmɑdɪfɪˈkeɪʃən// noun

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

"modification" is a 12-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“modification” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #10,088 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#10,088
frequency rank, English
12
letters
18
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The act of assessing and prescribing a payment, penalty, price, valuation, etc.

Key facts for modification
PropertyValue
Headwordmodification
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˌmɑdɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/
Letters12
Frequency rank#10,088
Misspellings tracked18
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “modification” 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). modification 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 modification is 12 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˌmɑdɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/. Corpus data places it at rank #10,088 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 7 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 18 likely wrong-spelling variants for modification, with forms such as "mdoification", "mmodification", and "moddification". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. Our dataset records no confusable match here, which typically means the spelling is too distinctive to be mistaken for another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English modificatioune, from Middle French modification and its etymon Latin modificātiō (“a measuring”), from modificāre (“to limit, control, modify”); see modify. By surface analysis, modify + -ication. The correct English form is modification, spelled M-O-D-I-F-I-C-A-T-I-O-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    The act of assessing and prescribing a payment, penalty, price, valuation, etc.
  2. 2
    The form of existence belonging to a particular object, entity etc.; a mode of being.
  3. 3
    The change undergone by a word when used in a construction.
  4. 4
    The result of modifying something; a new or changed form.
  5. 5
    The act of making a change to something while keeping its essential character intact; an alteration or adjustment.
  6. 6
    A change to an organism as a result of its environment that is not transmissable to offspring.
  7. 7
    A change to a word when it is borrowed by another language.

Etymology

From Middle English modificatioune, from Middle French modification and its etymon Latin modificātiō (“a measuring”), from modificāre (“to limit, control, modify”); see modify. By surface analysis, modify + -ication.

This word in other languages

modificación(Español)modification(Français)Änderung(Deutsch)modificação(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: mdoification,mmodification,moddification,modfiication,modifciation,modiffication,modifiaction,modificaiton,modificasion,modificatino,modificationn,modificatoin,modificattion,modificcation,modifictaion,modiifcation,moidfication,omdification

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of modification - 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.

mdoification2mmodification1moddification1modfiication2modifciation2modiffication1modifiaction2modificaiton2
Edit distance from "modification"

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 "modification"?
"modification" is spelled M-O-D-I-F-I-C-A-T-I-O-N. The IPA pronunciation is /ˌmɑdɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/.
What does "modification" mean?
As a noun, "modification" means: The act of assessing and prescribing a payment, penalty, price, valuation, etc.
What are common misspellings of "modification"?
Common misspellings include "mdoification", "mmodification", "moddification", "modfiication", "modifciation". The correct spelling is "modification".
How do you pronounce "modification"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "modification" is /ˌmɑdɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/. 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 "modification"?
From Middle English modificatioune, from Middle French modification and its etymon Latin modificātiō (“a measuring”), from modificāre (“to limit, control, modify”); see modify. By surface analysis, modify + -ication. 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 “modification”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is M-O-D-I-F-I-C-A-T-I-O-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˌmɑdɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • 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