3 syllables: ac, ces, sion. Stress on ces.
uhk-SESH-uhn
/əˈksɛʃən/
accession is pronounced uhk-SESH-uhn (/əˈksɛʃən/). It has three syllables (ac-ces-sion), with the stress on "ces". Accession refers to the act of attaining or being given a rank, office, or position, often following a succession or accession ceremony. It can also denote the attainment of a throne or status, or the act of joining or entering something, such as accession to a treaty or organization. In nuanced use, it implies formal arrival or permission granted to assume duties or rights. (2–4 sentences, ~60 words).
Accession refers to the act of attaining or being given a rank, office, or position, often following a succession or accession ceremony. It can also denote the attainment of a throne or status, or the act of joining or entering something, such as accession to a treaty or organization. In nuanced use, it implies formal arrival or permission granted to assume duties or rights. (2–4 sentences, ~60 words)
"The king’s accession marked a peaceful transition of power."
"Her accession to the board brought new strategic direction to the company."
"The country’s accession to the international agreement was ratified after months of negotiations."
Pronounce as /ˌækˈsɛʃən/ (US) or /ˌækˈseɪʃən/ (UK/AU). The main stress falls on the second syllable: ac-CESS-ion. Start with /æ/ as in cat, then /k/, then /ˈsɛʃ/ (church-ʃən sound), and end with /ən/. You’ll want a crisp /s/ before the /ɛ/ vowel and a light, unstressed final /ən/.
Common mistakes: 1) Misplacing stress on the first syllable (ac-CES-sion). 2) Using /seɪ/ instead of /sɛ/ in the second syllable (accéssion vs accession). 3) Slurring the /ʃ/ into a simple /s/ or /ʃ/; keep a clear /ʃ/ followed by a weak /ən/. Focus on a brief, unstressed final /ən/. Correct by pronouncing /ˌækˈsɛʃən/ or /ˌækˈseɪʃən/ accurately with consistent voiceless /s/ before /ʃ/.
US: /ˌækˈsɛʃən/ with /ɛ/ in the second syllable; UK/AU often favor /ˌækˈseɪʃən/ or /ˌækˈsɛʃən/ depending on speaker; AU tends toward /ˈseɪ/ or /ˈsɛɪ/ in some dialects while preserving the /ʃ/ sound. The key variant is the second syllable vowel: /ɛ/ vs /eɪ/. Rhoticity is typically non-rhotic in British English, affecting preceding /r/ not present here. IPA references: US /ˌækˈsɛʃən/, UK /ˌækˈseɪʃən/ or /ˌækˈsɛʃən/.
The difficulty lies in the fixed stress pattern (secondary stress on the first syllable, primary on the second) and the /s/ + /ʃ/ sequence that yields /sɛʃ/ or /seɪʃ/. The /æ/ vs /eɪ/ in the second syllable can shift with dialect and rapid speech, making it easy to misplace the vowel. Also, the final unstressed /ən/ can sound like /n/ or /ən/. Practice with minimal pairs to stabilize the second syllable vowel and the /ʃ/ cluster.
No silent letters disrupt the usual spelling-to-sound mapping here. Every letter contributes to the pronunciation: a + c + c + e + s + s + i + o + n, yielding /ˌækˈsɛʃən/ or /ˌækˈseɪʃən/. The main challenge is the vowel in the second syllable and the /ʃ/ sound after it, not silent letters.
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Accession comes from Middle English accessioun, from Old French accession, from Latin accessio, from accedere “to go toward, arrive, approach.” The root acc- means “to, toward” and is related to access, which preserves a sense of entering or gaining entry. The suffix -ion marks the action or process. The word gained legal and ceremonial gravity in late medieval and early modern English, expanding from “entrance” to “the act of ascending to a throne or office” and later to “joining” or “adoption into a treaty or organization.” Its first known uses appear in documents discussing coronations, oaths, and the formal acceptance of rulers, officials, or members. Over time, accession broadened to generic “gaining or attaining” positions and statuses, while keeping its formal connotation of official or ceremonial entry. The semantic shift from a physical arrival (entering a space) to a formal or legal admission (joining an institution) underscores the social weight of the term in governance and diplomacy. In modern usage, it also appears in contexts like corporate leadership, membership, or treaty ratifications, still bearing a tone of legitimacy and ceremony.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "accession" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "accession"
-ion sounds
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