temptation

/ˌtɛmpˈteɪʃən/

//ˌtɛmpˈteɪʃən// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"temptation" is a 10-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“temptation” has 16 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #10,946. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#10,946
frequency rank, English
27,828
“T” headwords
16
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The act of tempting.

Key facts for temptation
PropertyValue
Headwordtemptation
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˌtɛmpˈteɪʃən/
Letters10
Frequency rank#10,946
Misspellings tracked16
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “temptation” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). temptation lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 16 spelling variants around temptation (IPA /ˌtɛmpˈteɪʃən/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #10,946 among 27,828 “T” headwords. Wiktionary lists 4 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 16 likely wrong-spelling variants for temptation, with forms such as "etmptation", "temmptation", and "tempattion". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, which tends to mean the word is visually distinctive enough to stand on its own.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Old French temptacion, from Latin temptatio. Morphologically tempt + -ation. The correct English form is temptation, spelled T-E-M-P-T-A-T-I-O-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    The act of tempting.
  2. 2
    The condition of being tempted.
  3. 3
    Something attractive, tempting or seductive; an inducement, seducement, or enticement.
  4. 4
    Pressure applied to one's thinking designed to create wrong emotions which will eventually lead to wrong actions.

Etymology

From Old French temptacion, from Latin temptatio. Morphologically tempt + -ation.

Synonyms

fitna

This word in other languages

tentación(Español)tentation(Français)Versuchung(Deutsch)tentação(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • etmptation
  • temmptation
  • tempattion
  • tempptation
  • temptaiton
  • temptasion
  • temptatino
  • temptationn
  • temptatoin
  • temptattion
  • tempttaion
  • tempttation
  • temtpation
  • tepmtation
  • tmeptation
  • ttemptation

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of temptation - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

etmptation2temmptation1tempattion2tempptation1temptaiton2temptasion1temptatino2temptationn1
Edit distance from "temptation"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "temptation"?
"temptation" is spelled T-E-M-P-T-A-T-I-O-N. The IPA pronunciation is /ˌtɛmpˈteɪʃən/.
What does "temptation" mean?
As a noun, "temptation" means: The act of tempting.
What are common misspellings of "temptation"?
Common misspellings include "etmptation", "temmptation", "tempattion", "tempptation", "temptaiton". The correct spelling is "temptation".
How do you pronounce "temptation"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "temptation" is /ˌtɛmpˈteɪʃən/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "temptation"?
From Old French temptacion, from Latin temptatio. Morphologically tempt + -ation. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “temptation”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is T-E-M-P-T-A-T-I-O-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˌtɛmpˈteɪʃən/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Same frequency band

Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list