extension

\ɛk.stɑ̃.sjɔ̃\

/\ɛk.stɑ̃.sjɔ̃\/ noun

The verdict

“extension” is a regularly-used French word, ranked #3,195 in French word frequency and used as a noun.

#3,195
frequency rank, French
9
letters
13
tracked misspellings
4
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Accroissement d’étendue.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

extension vs extorsion
78% similar
extension vs extensive
78% similar
extension vs extensions
90% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for extension
PropertyValue
Headwordextension
LanguageFrench
Part of speechNoun
IPA\ɛk.stɑ̃.sjɔ̃\
Letters9
Frequency rank#3,195
Misspellings tracked13
Confusable pairs4
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “extension” sits in French 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). extension lands here:

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

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

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The French entry for extension is 9 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as \ɛk.stɑ̃.sjɔ̃\. Corpus data places it at rank #3,195 in overall French word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 14 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 13 likely wrong-spelling variants for extension, with forms such as "etxension", "exetnsion", and "extenison". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 4 confusable-pair relationships, "extorsion", "extensive", "extensions", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Our source data has no etymology on file for this entry, so its spelling is easiest explained by how it's pronounced rather than where it came from. The correct French form is extension, spelled E-X-T-E-N-S-I-O-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    Accroissement d’étendue.
  2. 2
    Action d’étendre un corps, de lui faire acquérir plus de surface.
  3. 3
    Action de ce qui s’étend ; se dit surtout des membres.
  4. 4
    Propriété d’un corps d’avoir une étendue, d’occuper une portion d’espace
  5. 5
    Capacité du sens d’un terme, d’un concept, d’inclure un nombre plus ou moins important d’objets référents
  6. 6
    Opération par laquelle on étend, en la tirant, une partie luxée ou fracturée, pour remettre les os dans leur situation naturelle.
  7. 7
    Relâchement d’un nerf, d’un tendon, qui vient, par quelque effort, à s’étendre plus qu’il ne faudrait.
  8. 8
    Augmentation d’un privilège, d’une autorité.
  9. 9
    Interprétation ou application d’une loi, d’une clause, etc., dans un sens plus étendu.
  10. 10
    Action d’étendre la signification d’un mot, tient le milieu entre le sens propre et le sens figuré.
  11. 11
    Suffixe identifiant le format d’un fichier ou d’un nom de domaine.
  12. 12
    Module conçu pour rajouter des possibilités supplémentaires à un programme, à un jeu… Pour un jeu vidéo, on parle plutôt d’addon (ou add-on). Pour un logiciel, on emploie plutôt le mot plug-in.
  13. 13
    Terme utilisé dans la théorie des corps, par opposition à sous-corps.
  14. 14
    Désignation d’un ensemble d’éléments par énumération explicite de chacun des cas correspondant.

Synonyms

Antonyms

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: etxension,exetnsion,extenison,extennsion,extensino,extensionn,extensoin,extenssion,extesnion,extnesion,exttension,exxtension,xetension

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of extension - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

etxension2exetnsion2extenison2extennsion1extensino2extensionn1extensoin2extenssion1
Edit distance from "extension"

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 French corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "extension"?
"extension" is spelled E-X-T-E-N-S-I-O-N. The IPA pronunciation is \ɛk.stɑ̃.sjɔ̃\.
What does "extension" mean?
As a noun, "extension" means: Accroissement d’étendue.
What words are commonly confused with "extension"?
"extension" is commonly confused with "extorsion", "extensive", "extensions". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "extension"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "extension" is \ɛk.stɑ̃.sjɔ̃\. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "extension" come from?
"extension" is a French word. PlainSpell covers definitions, pronunciations, and spelling data across English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German.
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 “extension”

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

  • The one correct French spelling is E-X-T-E-N-S-I-O-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as \ɛk.stɑ̃.sjɔ̃\ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “extorsion” - see the side-by-side comparison. extension vs extorsion
  • Browse more French words and confusable pairs in the same reference. French words
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