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Immaculate Conception

American  

noun

Roman Catholic Church.
  1. the dogma of the unique privilege by which the Virgin Mary was conceived in her mother's womb without the stain of original sin through the anticipated merits of Jesus Christ.


Immaculate Conception British  

noun

  1. Christian theol RC Church the doctrine that the Virgin Mary was conceived without any stain of original sin

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Immaculate Conception Cultural  
  1. A doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church. It states that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was free from original sin (see also original sin).


Etymology

Origin of Immaculate Conception

First recorded in 1680–90

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.

See Examples For:

In this setting, he’d probably lecture the Jesuit on the evolution of papal authority and explain the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception in perfect Yale Law School language.

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 22, 2026

This week, he became the first president to formally recognize the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a Catholic holy day celebrating Mary, the mother of Jesus.

From Los Angeles Times Dec. 11, 2025

His visit came one year to the day before Notre-Dame is scheduled to reopen, on Dec. 8, 2024, when Catholics will celebrate the Immaculate Conception.

From New York Times Dec. 8, 2023

The combination library and organizing center spans several rooms on the first floor of Immaculate Conception Church in the Central District.

From Seattle Times Sep. 21, 2023

During the sermon, the priest discussed the miracle of Immaculate Conception and the Virgin Birth.

From "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls

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