conception
Americannoun
-
the act of conceiving; the state of being conceived.
-
fertilization; inception of pregnancy.
-
She has some odd conceptions about life.
-
something that is conceived.
That machine is the conception of a genius.
-
origination; beginning.
The organization has been beset by problems from its conception.
-
a sketch of something not actually existing.
an artist's conception of ancient Athens.
-
the act or power of forming notions, ideas, or concepts.
noun
-
something conceived; notion, idea, design, or plan
-
the description under which someone considers something
her conception of freedom is wrong
-
the fertilization of an ovum by a sperm in the Fallopian tube followed by implantation in the womb
-
origin or beginning
from its conception the plan was a failure
-
the act or power of forming notions; invention
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
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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?
Vocabulary lists containing conception
Franklin Roosevelt, "Four Freedoms" (1941)
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"Jane Eyre" -- Chapters I-IV
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Word Generation Weekly - Series 3
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
For many years, the Supreme Court refused to embrace this two-dimensional conception of equal protection.
From Slate • Jun. 22, 2026
The trio are also keen to raise awareness around donor conception, something Natasha described as "a silent subject".
From BBC • Jun. 18, 2026
The mushy score, absurdly pompous speeches, and Victorian staginess harmonize with Mr. Fraser’s conception of his role as the emoter in chief.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026
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
Even in his discussion of Harvard, it’s as if Langan has no conception of the culture and particulars of the institution he’s talking about.
From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
