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.

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Immaculate Conception British  

noun

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

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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).

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Etymology

Origin of Immaculate Conception

First recorded in 1680–90

Example Sentences

Another Idris Elba film, Debbie Tucker Green’s BAFTA-winner “Second Coming,” takes on the consequences of immaculate conception.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 26, 2022

“But I can’t pretend there was sort of an immaculate conception here where Mr. Avenatti suddenly became this incredibly public lawyer magically,” Gardephe said.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 22, 2020

He founded the first men's religious order dedicated to the Virgin Mary's immaculate conception.

From BBC • Jun. 5, 2016

From Boltzmann’s era onward, scientists allergic to the notion of such an immaculate conception have been grappling with this conundrum.

From Scientific American • Dec. 8, 2014

Dad’s theories ranged from Esperanto, which he made us study because he thought it was the answer to half the world’s problems, to immaculate conception, which he said wasn’t supported by available biological evidence.

From "Cheaper by the Dozen" by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey