# retardation

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˌɹiː.tɑːˈdeɪ̯.ʃən/ · frequency rank #33,395

## Definitions
1. The act of retarding or delaying; hindrance.
2. The act of retarding or delaying; hindrance.
3. The act of retarding or delaying; hindrance.
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. Extreme stupidity.
7. That which retards; an obstacle; an obstruction.
8. Deceleration; reduction in the magnitude of velocity.
9. A suspension which resolves upwards.

## Etymology
From retard + -ation.

## Easily confused with
- **reparation** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reparation-vs-retardation)
- **retaliation** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/retaliation-vs-retardation)

## Common misspellings (17)
`ertardation`, `reatrdation`, `retadration`, `retaradtion`, `retardaiton`, `retardasion`, `retardatino`, `retardationn`, `retardatoin`, `retardattion`, `retarddation`, `retardtaion`, `retarrdation`, `retradation`, `rettardation`, `rretardation`, `rteardation`

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