relaxation
/ˌɹilækˈseɪʃən/noun
relaxation is spelled R-E-L-A-X-A-T-I-O-N: 10 letters and 4 syllables. It appears 5.1 times per million words in written English, the 11,015th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, relaxation means “The act of relaxing or the state of being relaxed; the opposite of stress or tension; the aim of recreation and leisure activities” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of relaxation is relaxations.
How many letters and syllables are in relaxation?
| Letters | 10: R-E-L-A-X-A-T-I-O-N |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 4 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 5.1 times per million words; the 11,015th 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 and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; 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 relaxation?
Relaxation appears 5.1 times per million words in written English, the 11,015th 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 relaxation?
- UK /ˌɹiːlækˈseɪʃən/
- US /ˌɹilækˈseɪʃən/
- US /ɹɪˌlækˈseɪ.ʃən/
Relaxation has 4 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-relaxation.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with relaxation?
The 12 most written words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as relaxation from its last stressed vowel (/eɪʃən/):
- situation
- association
- population
- administration
- operation
- organization
- application
- location
- generation
- foundation
- conversation
- investigation
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 relaxation
- relaxations plural
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does relaxation mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
The act of relaxing or the state of being relaxed; the opposite of stress or tension; the aim of recreation and leisure activities.
- 2
A diminution of tone, tension, or firmness; specifically in pathology: a looseness; a diminution of the natural and healthy tone of parts.
relaxation of the soft palate
- 3
Remission or abatement of rigor.
- 4
Remission of attention or application.
relaxation of efforts
- 5
Unbending; recreation; a state or occupation intended to give mental or bodily relief after effort.
- 6
The transition of a nucleus, atom or molecule from a higher energy level to a lower one; the opposite of excitation
- 7
The release following musical tension.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Relaxation in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense act of relaxing or the state of being relaxed:
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | relaxation, détente |
| German | Entspannung |
| Portuguese | descontração |
| Spanish | relajación, relax |
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 relaxation come from?
Borrowed from Latin relaxatio, relaxationis; equivalent to relax + -ation.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).