Configuration is a noun referring to the arrangement or setup of parts or elements within a system. It denotes how components are organized to achieve a particular function, often implying a specific state or option selection. Usage commonly appears in technical, computing, and engineering contexts to describe settings, layouts, or topologies.
US: rhotic; emphasize the /ɹ/ in the coda of ‘con’, maintain a clear /ˈɡjuː/ glide; /ˈɡjuː/ should be even and unrounded. UK: non-rhotic; the /r/ is not pronounced, so focus on the /ˈɡjuː/ cluster and the following /ˈreɪ.ʃən/ smoother. AU: similar to UK with a slightly broader vowel in /ɒ/; keep strong open vowels, but maintain the glide into /juː/ without adding an extra schwa. IPA references for detailed mouth positions are recommended.
"The configuration of the network was updated to improve security and throughput."
"You can save your preferred printer configuration as a profile for quick access."
"After the software update, the configuration file needed to be adjusted for compatibility."
"The engineer reviewed the device’s configuration before the test began."
Configuration comes from the late Latin configuratio, from configurare meaning to form or shape. The root word is forma, meaning form, shape, or appearance, enmeshed with the prefix con- indicating together or with. In medieval and early modern usage, configuratio appeared in legal and architectural contexts to describe the arrangement or disposition of parts. By the 17th–18th centuries, in science and engineering, the term broadened to denote the manner of arrangement of components within a system or process. In computing and technology, configuration shifted to denote the specific settings that determine how a program or device behaves, a sense that became widespread with software and hardware development in the 20th century. The word’s meaning evolved from tangible physical form to more abstract states and parameters, preserving its core idea of order, alignment, and arrangement across disciplines.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Configuration" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Configuration" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Configuration"
-ion sounds
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Configuration is pronounced /ˌkɒn.fɪˈɡjuːˈreɪ.ʃən/ in British English and /ˌkɑːn.fəˈɡjuːˈreɪ.ʃən/ in American English, with primary stress on the third syllable: con-FIG-u-ra-tion. Break it into four parts: con + fig + u + ra + tion, stressing the /ˈɡjuː/ cluster. Mouth positions: start with a light ‘k’ after ‘con’, then a short ‘i’ as in ‘kit’, followed by ‘gu’ as in ‘you,’ then a schwa-tap into ‘ra’ and end with a clear ‘sh’ plus ‘ən’. For an audio reference, listen to a native speaker’s enunciation in a pronunciation resource or a high-quality dictionary audio sample.
Common mistakes include misplacing stress, saying ‘con-fig-U-ra-tion’ or flattening the vowel in the second syllable. People also cluster sounds as ‘con-fih-gyu-rate-shun,’ which distorts the /ɡjuː/ sequence. To correct: keep the /ˈɡjuː/ as a single consonant+vowel glide, not separate consonants, and place primary stress on the /ˈɡjuː/ portion for US/UK pronunciations; ensure the ending /ʃən/ is not reduced to /ʃn̩/ in rapid speech.
In US English, you’ll hear /ˌkɑn.fəˈɡjuːˌreɪ.ʃən/ with a rhotic initial vowel and a strong /juː/ gliding into /reɪ/. UK English uses /ˌkɒn.fɪɡˈjuːˈreɪ.ʃən/, with a shorter first vowel and a clear /juː/ followed by a lighter rhoticity. Australian English typically mirrors UK but with a flatter vowel in the first syllable and an audible yod-like quality in /ˈɡjuː/. In all cases, the /ˈɡjuː/ cluster is a key differentiator, shielding the word from mispronunciations like ‘con-fig-rate-tion’.
Two main challenges are the multi-syllabic length and the /ˈɡjuː/ cluster, which requires a smooth tongue-to-palate glide. The combination of /n/ plus /ɡf/ can trip speakers on the timing of the consonant release, and the final /ʃən/ can reduce or cluster in rapid speech. Mastery comes from practicing the precise sequence of a light /ɡ/ release into /j/ into /uː/, then moving into /ˈreɪ.ʃən/ with controlled syllable-timing.
Configuration does not have silent letters in the usual sense; the challenge lies in the coarticulation of /k/ or /ˈkɒn/ followed by /fɪ/ and /ɡjuː/ where the yod-like quality of /juː/ can be softened if your mouth closes early. Tip: keep the /juː/ as a distinct glide after /ɡ/ and avoid shortening the vowel in the middle, ensuring each syllable retains its audible identity.
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