triangulation

/tɹaɪˌæŋɡjʊˈleɪʃən/

//tɹaɪˌæŋɡjʊˈleɪʃən// noun

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

"triangulation" is a 13-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“triangulation” has 20 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #42,460. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#42,460
frequency rank, English
27,828
“T” headwords
20
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A technique in which distances and directions are estimated from an accurately measured baseline and the principles of trigonometry; (countable) an instance of the use of this technique.

Key facts for triangulation
PropertyValue
Headwordtriangulation
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/tɹaɪˌæŋɡjʊˈleɪʃən/
Letters13
Frequency rank#42,460
Misspellings tracked20
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “triangulation” 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). triangulation 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 20 spelling variants around triangulation (IPA /tɹaɪˌæŋɡjʊˈleɪʃən/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #42,460 among 27,828 “T” headwords. Wiktionary lists 7 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 20 likely wrong-spelling variants for triangulation, with forms such as "rtiangulation", "tirangulation", and "traingulation". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. No close-neighbour confusable shows up for this headword in our dataset, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Medieval Latin triangulātiō (“triangulation”), from triangulō (“to triangulate”) + -tiō (noun-forming suffix). Triangulō is derived from triangulus (“triangular; triangle”), from trēs (“three”) + angulus (“angle; corner”). By surface analysis, triangul… The correct English form is triangulation, spelled T-R-I-A-N-G-U-L-A-T-I-O-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    A technique in which distances and directions are estimated from an accurately measured baseline and the principles of trigonometry; (countable) an instance of the use of this technique.
  2. 2
    The network of triangles so obtained, that are the basis of a chart or map.
  3. 3
    A delaying move in which the king moves in a triangular path to force the advance of a pawn.
  4. 4
    A subdivision of a planar object into triangles, and by extension the subdivision of a higher-dimension geometric object into simplices.
  5. 5
    A process by which an unknown location is found using three known distances from known locations.
  6. 6
    The practice of repositioning one's group or oneself on the political spectrum in an attempt to capture the centre.
  7. 7
    The use of three (or more) researchers to interview the same people or to evaluate the same evidence to reduce the impact of individual bias.

Etymology

From Medieval Latin triangulātiō (“triangulation”), from triangulō (“to triangulate”) + -tiō (noun-forming suffix). Triangulō is derived from triangulus (“triangular; triangle”), from trēs (“three”) + angulus (“angle; corner”). By surface analysis, triangulate + ion; cognate with French triangulation.

This word in other languages

triangulation(Français)triangulação(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • rtiangulation
  • tirangulation
  • traingulation
  • triagnulation
  • trianggulation
  • triangluation
  • triangualtion
  • triangulaiton
  • triangulasion
  • triangulatino
  • triangulationn
  • triangulatoin
  • triangulattion
  • triangullation
  • triangultaion
  • trianngulation
  • trianuglation
  • trinagulation
  • trriangulation
  • ttriangulation

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of triangulation - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

rtiangulation2tirangulation2traingulation2triagnulation2trianggulation1triangluation2triangualtion2triangulaiton2
Edit distance from "triangulation"

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 "triangulation"?
"triangulation" is spelled T-R-I-A-N-G-U-L-A-T-I-O-N. The IPA pronunciation is /tɹaɪˌæŋɡjʊˈleɪʃən/.
What does "triangulation" mean?
As a noun, "triangulation" means: A technique in which distances and directions are estimated from an accurately measured baseline and the principles of trigonometry; (countable) an instance of the use of this technique.
What are common misspellings of "triangulation"?
Common misspellings include "rtiangulation", "tirangulation", "traingulation", "triagnulation", "trianggulation". The correct spelling is "triangulation".
How do you pronounce "triangulation"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "triangulation" is /tɹaɪˌæŋɡjʊˈleɪʃən/. 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 "triangulation"?
From Medieval Latin triangulātiō (“triangulation”), from triangulō (“to triangulate”) + -tiō (noun-forming suffix). Triangulō is derived from triangulus (“triangular; triangle”), from trēs (“three”) + angulus (“angle; corner”). By surface analysis... 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 “triangulation”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is T-R-I-A-N-G-U-L-A-T-I-O-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /tɹaɪˌæŋɡjʊˈleɪʃən/ (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