# occasion

> English word · Noun · IPA /əˈkeɪʒən/ · frequency rank #3,771

## Definitions
1. A favorable opportunity; a convenient or timely chance.
2. The time when something happens.
3. An occurrence or state of affairs which causes some event or reaction; a motive or reason.
4. Something which causes something else; a cause.
5. An occurrence or incident.
6. A particular happening; an instance or time when something occurred.
7. A need; requirement, necessity.
8. A special event or function.
9. A reason or excuse; a motive; a persuasion.

## Etymology
From Middle English occasioun, from Middle French occasion, from Old French occasiun, from Latin occāsiōnem, noun of action from perfect passive participle occāsus, from verb occidō, from prefix ob- (“down", "away”) + verb cadō (“fall”).

## Easily confused with
- **occasions** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/occasion-vs-occasions)
- **occlusion** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/occasion-vs-occlusion)
- **occasional** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/occasion-vs-occasional)
- **occasioned** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/occasion-vs-occasioned)

## Common misspellings (10)
`cocasion`, `ocacsion`, `ocasion`, `occaison`, `occasino`, `occasionn`, `occasoin`, `occassion`, `occation`, `occsaion`

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