# observation

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˌɒbzəˈveɪʃn̩/ · frequency rank #5,818

## Definitions
1. The act of observing, and the fact of being observed (see observance)
2. The act of noting and recording some event; or the record of such noting.
3. A remark or comment.
4. A judgement based on observing.
5. Performance of what is prescribed; adherence in practice; observance.
6. A regime under which a subject is routinely observed.
7. A realization of a random variable.

## Etymology
From Middle English observacion, borrowed from Middle French observacion. Also a borrowing from French observation and a learned borrowing from Latin observātiō(n-).
Morphologically observe + -ation.

## Easily confused with
- **observations** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/observation-vs-observations)
- **observational** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/observation-vs-observational)

## Common misspellings (17)
`boservation`, `obbservation`, `obesrvation`, `obseravtion`, `obserrvation`, `observaiton`, `observasion`, `observatino`, `observationn`, `observatoin`, `observattion`, `observtaion`, `observvation`, `obsevration`, `obsrevation`, `obsservation`, `osbervation`

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