retardation
re·tar·da·tion/ˌɹi.tɑɹˈdeɪ̯.ʃən/noun
retardation is spelled R-E-T-A-R-D-A-T-I-O-N: 11 letters and 4 syllables (re·tar·da·tion). It appears about once in every 1 million words in written English, the 33,236th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, retardation means “The distance by which one wave is behind another” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of retardation is retardations.
How many letters and syllables are in retardation?
| Letters | 11: R-E-T-A-R-D-A-T-I-O-N |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 4: re·tar·da·tion |
| In writing | about once in every 1 million words; the 33,236th 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 retardation?
Retardation appears about once in every 1 million words in written English, the 33,236th 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 retardation?
- UK /ˌɹiː.tɑːˈdeɪ̯.ʃən/
- US /ˌɹi.tɑɹˈdeɪ̯.ʃən/
- Australia /ˌɹiː.tɐːˈdæɪ̯.ʃən/
Retardation has 4 syllables, split re·tar·da·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-retardation.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with retardation?
The 12 most written words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as retardation 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 retardation
- retardations plural
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does retardation mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
The distance by which one wave is behind another.
- 2
The act of diminishing the rate of speed.
- 3
A decrease in the speed of telegraph signalling.
- 4
The extent to which anything is retarded; the result of any retarding or delay; mental, social, or physical slowness.
- 5
Ellipsis of mental retardation.
- 6
colloquialderogatoryoffensiveExtreme stupidity.
- 7
That which retards; an obstacle; an obstruction.
- 8
Deceleration; reduction in the magnitude of velocity.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Retardation in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense retarding; delaying:
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| Spanish | retardación |
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 retardation come from?
Learned borrowing from Latin retardātiō.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).