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“Updation” — Is It a Real Word?

2 min read · Indianisms · Office English / IELTS

The short answer

Updation is not a real English word. You will not find it in Merriam-Webster, Oxford, or Cambridge. The correct word is update— which works as both a verb (“please update the file”) and a noun (“please send the update”).

Wrong vs. Right

Wrong

Please do the needful updation.

Right

Please update the records.

Wrong

Updation of the database is pending.

Right

The database update is pending.

Wrong

Kindly confirm the updation.

Right

Kindly confirm the update.

Wrong

Profile updation is mandatory.

Right

Updating your profile is mandatory.

Where Did “Updation” Come From?

English forms nouns from verbs using the suffix -tion: confirm → confirmation, inform → information, create → creation. Indians applied this same rule to update — and got updation.

The rule works for most verbs. But update is an exception — it is already a noun. You do not need to add -tionto make it into one. “The update” is the noun. “To update” is the verb. There is no third form needed.

You see the same mistake with words like revert → revertation(also wrong), but “updation” is by far the most common version in Indian offices and government forms.

Update as a Noun — Examples

As a verbAs a noun
Please update your address.Please send your address update.
Update the report by Friday.The report update is due Friday.
We need to update the system.The system update will take 10 minutes.
Update me on the situation.Give me an update on the situation.

Notice: the noun form is just “update” — no suffix required.

Exam tip

“Updation” may appear in vocabulary-error MCQs in SSC and banking exams. If a sentence uses “updation” and you are asked to identify the incorrect word, it is always “updation” — replace it with update.

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