traction
/ˈtɹæk.ʃən/noun, verb
traction is spelled T-R-A-C-T-I-O-N: 8 letters and 2 syllables. It appears 6.0 times per million words in written English, the 9,878th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, traction means “The act of pulling something along a surface using motive power” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of traction is tractions.
How many letters and syllables are in traction?
| Letters | 8: T-R-A-C-T-I-O-N |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 6.0 times per million words; the 9,878th 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 traction?
Traction appears 6.0 times per million words in written English, the 9,878th 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 traction?
- US /ˈtɹæk.ʃən/
- British /ˈtɹak.ʃən/
- /ˈtɾak.ʃən/
Traction has 2 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-traction.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with traction?
5 words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as traction from its last stressed vowel (/ækʃən/):
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 traction
- tractions plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- tractioning participle, present
- tractioned participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does traction mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
The act of pulling something along a surface using motive power.
- 2
The condition of being so pulled.
- 3
Grip.
- 4
The pulling power of an engine or animal.
- 5
The adhesive friction of a wheel etc on a surface.
- 6
Progress in or momentum toward achieving a goal, especially in gaining support, recognition, or popularity.
I could not get any traction in trying to push through the legislation.
- 7
The extent of adoption of a new product or service, typically measured in number of customers or level of revenue achieved.
- 8
Popular support.
verb
- 1
To apply a sustained pull to (a limb, etc.).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Traction in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense act of pulling something along a surface using motive power:
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 traction come from?
From Medieval Latin tractio, from Latin tractus, perfect passive participle of verb trahere (“pull”), + noun of action suffix -io (genitive -ionis).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).