# suction

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈsʌkʃən/ · frequency rank #18,197

## Definitions
1. A force which pushes matter from one space into another because the pressure inside the second space is lower than the pressure in the first.
2. A force holding two objects together because the pressure in the space between the items is lower than the pressure outside that space.
3. The process of creating an imbalance in pressure to draw matter from one place to another.
4. A device for removing saliva from a patient's mouth during dental operations, a saliva ejector.
5. influence; "pull".

## Etymology
From Latin sūctiō, attested since Late Latin and derived from sūgō (“to suck”). Attested in English since the early 17th century.

## Easily confused with
- **Sutton** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/suction-vs-sutton)
- **scion** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scion-vs-suction)
- **station** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/station-vs-suction)
- **section** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/section-vs-suction)
- **sanction** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sanction-vs-suction)
- **seduction** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/seduction-vs-suction)

## Common misspellings (11)
`scution`, `ssuction`, `sucction`, `suciton`, `sucsion`, `suctino`, `suctionn`, `suctoin`, `sucttion`, `sutcion`, `usction`

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