partition
par·ti·tion/pɑɹˈtɪ.ʃən/noun, verb
partition is spelled P-A-R-T-I-T-I-O-N: 9 letters and 3 syllables (par·ti·tion). It appears 4.7 times per million words in written English, the 11,685th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, partition means “An action which divides a thing into parts, or separates one thing from another” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of partition is partitions.
How many letters and syllables are in partition?
| Letters | 9: P-A-R-T-I-T-I-O-N |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 3: par·ti·tion |
| In writing | 4.7 times per million words; the 11,685th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Rhymes with |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is partition?
Partition appears 4.7 times per million words in written English, the 11,685th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce partition?
- UK /pɑːˈtɪ.ʃən/
- UK [pʰɑːˈtʰɪ.ʃn̩]
- US /pɑɹˈtɪ.ʃən/
Partition has 3 syllables, split par·ti·tion in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-partition.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with partition?
The 12 most written words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as partition from its last stressed vowel (/ɪʃən/):
- position
- competition
- opposition
- permission
- composition
- acquisition
- coalition
- physician
- politician
- admission
- nutrition
- expedition
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of partition
- partitions plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- partitioning participle, present
- partitioned participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does partition mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
An action which divides a thing into parts, or separates one thing from another.
the partitions of Poland
- 2
A part of something that has been divided.
the Russian Partition
- 3
An approach to division in which one asks what the size of each part is, rather than (as in quotition) how many parts there are.
- 4
The division of a territory into two or more autonomous ones.
Monarchies where partition isn't prohibited risk weakening through parcellation and civil wars between the heirs.
- 5
A vertical structure that divides a room.
a brick partition; lath and plaster partitions
- 6
That which divides or separates; that by which different things, or distinct parts of the same thing, are separated; boundary; dividing line or space.
- 7
A part divided off by walls; an apartment; a compartment.
- 8
The severance of common or undivided interests, particularly in real estate. It may be effected by consent of parties, or by compulsion of law.
verb
- 1
To divide something into parts, sections or shares.
to partition a hard drive
- 2
To divide a region or country into two or more territories with separate political status.
Poland was progressively partitioned by Russia, Austria, and Prussia in the late 18th century.
- 3
To separate or divide a room by a partition (ex. a wall), often use with off.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
How do you abbreviate partition?
Wiktionary records one abbreviation of partition: partn.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Partition in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| German | Teilung , Partition , Zerlegung, Klasseneinteilung |
| Spanish | parte , partición , partir, devisar, dividir, particionar |
| French | partition |
| Portuguese | partição |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does partition come from?
Recorded c.1430, "division into shares, distinction," from Middle English particioun, from Old French particion (modern partition), from Latin partitio, partitionem (“division, portion”), from partitus, the past participle of partire (“to split (up), part(ition)”).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).