# modulation

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˌmɒdjʊˈleɪʃn̩/ · frequency rank #19,908

## Definitions
1. Modification or regulation of something to achieve an appropriate measure or proportion; (countable) an instance of this.
2. Modification or regulation of something to achieve an appropriate measure or proportion; (countable) an instance of this.
3. Modification or regulation of something to achieve an appropriate measure or proportion; (countable) an instance of this.
4. Modification or regulation of something to achieve an appropriate measure or proportion; (countable) an instance of this.
5. Modification or regulation of something to achieve an appropriate measure or proportion; (countable) an instance of this.
6. Modification or regulation of something to achieve an appropriate measure or proportion; (countable) an instance of this.
7. Modification or regulation of something to achieve an appropriate measure or proportion; (countable) an instance of this.
8. Changing of a thing from one form to another; (countable) an instance of this.
9. Harmonious use of language in poetry or prose.
10. Modification of the parts of a classical Greek or Roman building to achieve appropriate proportions by measuring in modules (“standard units of measure, usually the diameter or radius of a column at the base of a shaft”).
11. Any of the musical notes in ecclesiastical modes of music on which a melodic phrase had to begin and end.
12. Arrangement or composition, or performance, of music in a certain key or mode; also (countable) a series of musical notes, chord, or tune analyzed according to a key or mode.
13. Making music or singing; (countable) a melody, a tune; also (chiefly in the plural), a musical note.

## Etymology
From Late Middle English modulacion, modulacioun (“act of making music or singing; harmony; melody, song”), from Middle French modulation (modern French modulation), and directly from its etymon Latin modulātiō (“regular or rhythmical measure, modulation; inflection of tone; (architecture) calculation of measurements from a standard unit; (Late Latin) act of making music or singing; melody, song”), from modulātus (“modulated”) + -iō (suffix forming abstract nouns from verbs). Modulātus is a perfect participle of modulor (“to beat time; to make music or sing; to measure; etc.”), from modulus (“rhythmical measure, interval; rhythm; small interval or measure, etc.”) + -or (suffix forming certain inflections of verbs); and modulus is from modus (“measure; method; etc.”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *med- (“to measure; etc.”)) + -ulus (diminutive suffix). By surface analysis, modulat(e) + -ion (suffix denoting an action or process, or its result).

## Easily confused with
- **modulator** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/modulation-vs-modulator)
- **moderation** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/moderation-vs-modulation)

## Common misspellings (15)
`mdoulation`, `mmodulation`, `moddulation`, `modluation`, `modualtion`, `modulaiton`, `modulasion`, `modulatino`, `modulationn`, `modulatoin`, `modulattion`, `modullation`, `modultaion`, `moudlation`, `omdulation`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/modulation