unction

/ˈʌŋk.ʃən/

//ˈʌŋk.ʃən// noun

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

"unction" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“unction” is uncommon English (frequency #94,382 among 23,789 “U” headwords), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#94,382
frequency rank, English
23,789
“U” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - An ointment or salve.

Key facts for unction
PropertyValue
Headwordunction
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈʌŋk.ʃən/
Letters7
Frequency rank#94,382
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “unction” 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). unction lands here:

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

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

Rare enough to double-check

unction is uncommon English at frequency #94,382 among 23,789 “U” headwords, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈʌŋk.ʃən/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 6 senses are on record.

The misspelling generator found no plausible variants for unction, which points to an orthography that plays by predictable English rules. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, which typically means the spelling is too distinctive to be mistaken for another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from Latin unctiō. The correct English form is unction, spelled U-N-C-T-I-O-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    An ointment or salve.
  2. 2
    A religious or ceremonial anointing.
  3. 3
    A balm or something that soothes.
  4. 4
    A quality in language, address or delivery which expresses sober and fervent emotion.
  5. 5
    Unctuousness: A smug, exaggerated use of language; smarminess.
  6. 6
    Divine or sanctifying grace.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin unctiō.

This word in other languages

unción(Español)onction(Français)

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 "unction"?
"unction" is spelled U-N-C-T-I-O-N. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈʌŋk.ʃən/.
What does "unction" mean?
As a noun, "unction" means: An ointment or salve.
How do you pronounce "unction"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "unction" is /ˈʌŋk.ʃən/. 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 "unction"?
Borrowed from Latin unctiō. 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 “unction”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is U-N-C-T-I-O-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈʌŋk.ʃən/ (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

Other uncommon English words near this rank

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