# mutation

> English word · Noun · IPA /mjuˈteɪʃən/ · frequency rank #12,281

## Definitions
1. Any alteration or change.
2. Any heritable change of the base-pair sequence of genetic material.
3. A mutant.
4. An alteration in a particular sound of a word, especially the initial consonant, which is triggered by the word's morphological or syntactic context and not by its phonological context.
5. The transfer of title of an asset in a register.
6. A group of thrushes.

## Etymology
Late 14th century as Middle English mutacioun, from Latin mūtātiō, both directly and via Old French mutacion.

## Easily confused with
- **mutton** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mutation-vs-mutton)
- **mutilation** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mutation-vs-mutilation)

## Common misspellings (12)
`mmutation`, `mtuation`, `muattion`, `mutaiton`, `mutasion`, `mutatino`, `mutationn`, `mutatoin`, `mutattion`, `muttaion`, `muttation`, `umtation`

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