ossification

/ˌɒsɪfɪˈkeɪʃn̩/

//ˌɒsɪfɪˈkeɪʃn̩// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"ossification" is a 12-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“ossification” is uncommon English (frequency #85,606 among 1,431 “O” headwords), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#85,606
frequency rank, English
1,431
“O” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - The normal process by which bone is formed.

Corpus desk

Index EN-ossification · ossification · English

ossification · rank #85,606 · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-RARE #85,606
  • LEN-MEGA 12 letters
  • VOW-6 6 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-MID 1,431
  • PHOTO-FINISH outran

Nearest frequency peer: outran (+2 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Long-tail ranks near “ossification”

Sparse band: bars invert rank so rarer forms read shorter

corpus weight

What this shows Long-tail view: where “ossification” sits against similarly uncommon English ranks.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026
Key facts for ossification
PropertyValue
Headwordossification
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˌɒsɪfɪˈkeɪʃn̩/
Letters12
Frequency rank#85,606
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “ossification” in English

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right).ossificationfalls in this rarity band:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Ticks step logarithmically, so each one marks a roughly tenfold drop in how often the word turns up. Rare peers in the same band: “outran” (#85,608), “overconsumption” (#85,609), “overgrazing” (#85,610). Among 1,431 “O” headwords, “ossification” is #85,606. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

ossification is uncommon English at frequency #85,606 among 1,431 “O” headwords, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˌɒsɪfɪˈkeɪʃn̩/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 3 senses are on record.

ossification has no tracked misspelling variants, a straightforward case of a spelling with little room for common typos. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, which tends to mean the word is visually distinctive enough to stand on its own.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Latin os, ossis (“bone”) + -ification. Recorded earlier than ossify. The correct English form is ossification, spelled O-S-S-I-F-I-C-A-T-I-O-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    The normal process by which bone is formed.
  2. 2
    The calcification of tissue into a bonelike mass; the mass so formed.
  3. 3
    The process of becoming set in one's ways or beliefs; rigid conventionality.

Recorded use

Wiktionary example

These source excerpts show how ossification appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. Ectopic chondrocyte hypertrophy has been demonstrated in OA, suggesting that the pathogenetical process involves a recapitulation of endochondral ossification [ 11 – 13 ].

Etymology

From Latin os, ossis (“bone”) + -ification. Recorded earlier than ossify.

This word in other languages

ossification(Français)Verknöcherung(Deutsch)

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 "ossification"?
"ossification" is spelled O-S-S-I-F-I-C-A-T-I-O-N. The IPA pronunciation is /ˌɒsɪfɪˈkeɪʃn̩/.
What does "ossification" mean?
As a noun, "ossification" means: The normal process by which bone is formed.
How do you pronounce "ossification"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "ossification" is /ˌɒsɪfɪˈkeɪʃn̩/. 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 "ossification"?
From Latin os, ossis (“bone”) + -ification. Recorded earlier than ossify. 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.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "ossification", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 12 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

nonreligious#85,581Natchitoches#85,562precancerous#85,662musicologist#85,549

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list