4 syllables: De, po, si, tion. Stress on si.
dep-uh-ZISH-uhn
/ˌdɛpəˈzɪʃən/
Deposition is pronounced dep-uh-ZISH-uhn (/ˌdɛpəˈzɪʃən/). It has four syllables (De-po-si-tion), with the stress on "si". Deposition (noun) has two common senses: a formal statement given under oath, especially in a legal proceeding, and the process of depositing sediment or materials. In either sense, the word is used in formal or technical contexts, and stresses on the second syllable. It denotes a formal testimony or layer-by-layer accumulation in natural or geological processes.
nounDeposition (noun) has two common senses: a formal statement given under oath, especially in a legal proceeding, and the process of depositing sediment or materials. In either sense, the word is used in formal or technical contexts, and stresses on the second syllable. It denotes a formal testimony or layer-by-layer accumulation in natural or geological processes.
"During the deposition, the witness answered all questions clearly under oath."
"The geological deposition of minerals created the sedimentary layers you can examine in the cliffs."
"The attorney scheduled a deposition to gather sworn statements before the trial."
- IPA: US di-puh-ZIH-shən; UK di-pɒ-zi-ʃən; AU di-pɒ-zi-ʃən. - Primary stress falls on the third syllable: de-po-SI-tion. - Start with /d/ then /ɪ/ (or /ɪ/ in unstressed), then a light /p/ or /pɒ/ depending on accent, then /ə/ or /ɪ/ in the second syllable depending on rhythm, then /ˈzɪ/ or /zɪ/ for the stressed syllable, then /ən/ ending. Mouth: lift the middle of the tongue for /z/ and keep lips relaxed, avoid tucking the tongue too far back. In careful speech, you’ll produce a clear /ˌdiːpəˈzɪʃən/ in some contexts. Use audio models or a dictionary to hear the exact rhythm, but aim for a crisp, unstressed first syllable and stressed middle syllable.
Common errors: 1) Truncating the middle syllable and saying de- POS-i-tion; fix by keeping /pə/ or /po/ as a light, unstressed second syllable. 2) Misplacing primary stress on the second or first syllable (de-PO-si-tion or DE-po-sition); correct by marking the middle syllable as the strong beat. 3) Slurring /z/ into /s/ or mispronouncing /ʃ/ in /ʃən/ at the end; practice with minimal pairs like ‘division’ vs ‘deposition’ to hear the /ʒ/ or /ʃ/ differences. Practicing with a dictionary and recording yourself helps ensure you land the proper /ˈzɪ/ or /zɪ/ in the stressed syllable.
US: rhotic; /dɪˌpoʊ'zɪʃən/ or /ˌdɛpəˈzɪʃən/ depending on speaker; more reduce on first syllable in casual speech. UK: /ˌdɛpəˈzɪʃən/ with less vowel rounding in the second syllable and flatter /ɔ/ variants; non-rhotic tendencies may affect the final /ən/ to a lighter schwa. AU: similar to UK but with more rounded vowels and a slightly stronger /ɪ/ in the first syllable; stress remains on SI- as /ˌdɪˈpoʊzɪʃən/ in some speakers. Overall, the main differences are rhoticity and vowel quality in the first two syllables; the final -tion remains /ʃən/ or /zən/ depending on speaker and speed.
Two main challenges: 1) The multi-syllabic rhythm with stress on the third syllable can be tricky; ensure you don’t overemphasize the first two syllables. 2) The /z/ in the stressed syllable followed by /ɪ/ and /ʃ/ can blend, so you need precise tongue positioning to avoid a /zɪʃən/ slur. Practicing with minimal pairs and recording will help you hear and correct subtle shifts in vowel quality and the ending /ʃən/ vs /zən/.
A unique concern is the combination around the stressed syllable: the /ˈzɪ/ portion sits between a light, nearly schwa-like /ə/ in the second syllable and a stronger /ɪ/ in the stressed third syllable. To nail it, think: dee-PO-si-tion with the middle syllable just lightly colored and the /z/ clearly pronounced before the stressed /ɪ/. Use a mirror to watch mouth shape as you say the /z/ and /ɪ/ together.
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Deposition comes from Latin depositio, from deponere, meaning to put down or lay aside. The Latin root de- means “down” and ponere means “to place.” In English, deposition originally referred to the act of laying down a statement or fact, especially under oath, reflecting the legal sense of placing a sworn testimony into record. The sense relating to sediment or minerals—layers built up over time—emerged later through the metaphor of materials being laid down. The word appeared in English in the 14th–15th centuries, initially in legal contexts, then expanding to geology and general usage for any act of placing something down or describing layers. Over centuries, its meanings split into the legal deposition (sworn statement) and geological deposition (accumulation of material). In modern usage, both senses are active, and “deposition” can refer to the act of giving testimony, the place where testimony is given (the deposition), or the geological process of deposition itself. First known uses appear in medieval legal compilations and natural science texts, often in formal or academic prose. As a vocabulary item, it is a classic example of a word with distinct legal and scientific senses that share a common root meaning “putting down.”
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Words that rhyme with "Deposition"
-ion sounds
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