mortification

Name: mortification, English Word Data
Creator: Wiktionary
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

/ˌmɔːtɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/

//ˌmɔːtɪfɪˈkeɪʃən// noun

By PlainSpell Editorial Team · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) · analyzed May 6, 2026

The verdict

“mortification” is an uncommon English word, ranked #67,661 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#67,661
frequency rank, English: 13
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The act of mortifying.

Key facts for mortification
Property	Value
Headword	mortification
Language	English
Part of speech	Noun
IPA	/ˌmɔːtɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/
Letters	13
Frequency rank	#67,661
Misspellings tracked	0
Confusable pairs	0
Source	Wiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “mortification” 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). mortification lands here:

#67,661

#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 mortification is 13 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˌmɔːtɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/. Corpus data places it at rank #67,661 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 5 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

No generated misspelling entries exist for mortification in our index, a straightforward case of a spelling with little room for common typos. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English mortificacioun, mortification, from Middle French mortification and its etymon Latin mortificātiō. By surface analysis, mortify + -ication. The correct English form is mortification, spelled M-O-R-T-I-F-I-C-A-T-I-O-N.

Definition

1
The act of mortifying.
2
A sensation of extreme shame or embarrassment.
3
The death of part of the body.
4
A bringing under of the passions and appetites by a severe or strict manner of living.
5
A bequest to a charitable institution.

Etymology

From Middle English mortificacioun, mortification, from Middle French mortification and its etymon Latin mortificātiō. By surface analysis, mortify + -ication.

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 "mortification"?

"mortification" is spelled M-O-R-T-I-F-I-C-A-T-I-O-N. The IPA pronunciation is /ˌmɔːtɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/.

What does "mortification" mean?

As a noun, "mortification" means: The act of mortifying.

How do you pronounce "mortification"?

The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "mortification" is /ˌmɔːtɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/. 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 "mortification"?

From Middle English mortificacioun, mortification, from Middle French mortification and its etymon Latin mortificātiō. By surface analysis, mortify + -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 “mortification”

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

The one correct English spelling is M-O-R-T-I-F-I-C-A-T-I-O-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
Say it as /ˌmɔːtɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/ (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.