conception
Americannoun
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the act of conceiving; the state of being conceived.
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fertilization; inception of pregnancy.
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She has some odd conceptions about life.
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something that is conceived.
That machine is the conception of a genius.
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origination; beginning.
The organization has been beset by problems from its conception.
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a sketch of something not actually existing.
an artist's conception of ancient Athens.
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the act or power of forming notions, ideas, or concepts.
noun
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something conceived; notion, idea, design, or plan
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the description under which someone considers something
her conception of freedom is wrong
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the fertilization of an ovum by a sperm in the Fallopian tube followed by implantation in the womb
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origin or beginning
from its conception the plan was a failure
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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
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)
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"Jane Eyre" -- Chapters I-IV
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Word Generation Weekly - Series 3
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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.
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
“It changed my entire conception of who I was in the community,” Silva says.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026
The child's mother was in a lesbian relationship at the time of conception, but not married.
From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026
The conception meant that the show would need multiple actors playing Scarpetta, with one as the lead of the series.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 11, 2026
The execution strikes us as pedestrian and thus out of tune with the conception of the work.
From "History of Art, Volume 1" by H.W. Janson
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.
