conception

American  

[kuhn-sep-shuhn] / kənˈsɛp ʃən /

noun

1. the act of conceiving; the state of being conceived.

2. fertilization; inception of pregnancy.

3. a notion; concept.

   She has some odd conceptions about life.

4. something that is conceived.

   That machine is the conception of a genius.

5. origination; beginning.

   The organization has been beset by problems from its conception.

6. a design; plan.

7. a sketch of something not actually existing.

   an artist's conception of ancient Athens.

8. the act or power of forming notions, ideas, or concepts.

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conception British  

/ kənˈsɛpʃən /

noun

1. something conceived; notion, idea, design, or plan

2. the description under which someone considers something

   her conception of freedom is wrong

3. the fertilization of an ovum by a sperm in the Fallopian tube followed by implantation in the womb

4. origin or beginning

   from its conception the plan was a failure

5. the act or power of forming notions; invention

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conception Scientific  

/ kən-sĕp′shən /

1. The formation of a zygote resulting from the union of a sperm and egg cell; fertilization.

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conception Cultural  

1. Fertilization; the union of the sperm and ovum to form a zygote. (See reproductive systems.)

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Usage

What are other ways to say conception? A conception is a notion or idea that seems complete, individual, or somewhat intricate. Do you know when to use conception, thought, idea, and notion? Learn more on Thesaurus.com. 

Other Word Forms

• conceptional
  adjective
• conceptive
  adjective
• postconception
  adjective
• reconception
  noun

Etymology

Origin of conception

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English concepcion from Latin conceptiōn- (stem of conceptiō ), equivalent to Latin concept- ( see concept) + -iōn- -ion

Explanation

Conception means any idea or concept, or a sum of ideas and concepts. Your conception for designing the little girl's room with a princess theme was a hit. Her evil stepsisters are jealous. The noun conception can also mean a beginning — of anything in general, or of a pregnancy, specifically. August 15 marked the anniversary of the conception of your design business. Your parents told me their youngest child has been a holy terror since conception. So, do you get along with your older siblings?

Example Sentences

Fourteen years after its conception, museumgoers will starting May 1 be able to walk the replica ship's decks, immersed in a giant, wrap-around LED display of star-studded night skies.

From Barron's • Apr. 28, 2026

But if much of “Wasteman” follows an expected trajectory, the film’s conception of Taylor proves thornier than anticipated.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2026

The child's mother was in a lesbian relationship at the time of conception, but not married.

From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026

“Congressman Swalwell and the Findraiser team consulted the House Committee on Ethics on the conception and implementation of the tool every step of the way.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2026

That certainty, mulled over for several months in the small room he used as his laboratory, brought him to the conception of the plan to move Macondo to a better place.

From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Related Words

• appreciation
• conceit
• concept
• impression
• interpretation
• notion
• perception
• realization