invention

[in-ven-shuhn]

noun

1. the act of inventing.

2. U.S. Patent Law.,  a new, useful process, machine, improvement, etc., that did not exist previously and that is recognized as the product of some unique intuition or genius, as distinguished from ordinary mechanical skill or craftsmanship.

3. anything invented or devised.

4. the power or faculty of inventing, devising, or originating.

5. an act or instance of creating or producing by exercise of the imagination, especially in art, music, etc.

6. something fabricated, as a false statement.

7. Sociology.,  the creation of a new culture trait, pattern, etc.

8. Music.,  a short piece, contrapuntal in nature, generally based on one subject.

9. Rhetoric.,  (traditionally) one of the five steps in speech preparation, the process of choosing ideas appropriate to the subject, audience, and occasion.

10. Archaic.,  the act of finding.

invention

/ ɪnˈvɛnʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of inventing

2. something that is invented

3. patent law the discovery or production of some new or improved process or machine that is both useful and is not obvious to persons skilled in the particular field

4. creative power or ability; inventive skill

5. euphemistic,  a fabrication; lie

6. (in traditional rhetoric) one of the five steps in preparing a speech or discourse: the process of finding suitable topics on which to talk or write

7. music a short piece consisting of two or three parts usually in imitative counterpoint

8. sociol the creation of a new cultural pattern or trait

Other Word Forms

• inventional adjective
• inventionless adjective
• preinvention noun
• self-invention noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of invention¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English invencio(u)n, from Latin inventiōn-, stem of inventiō “discovery, finding out”; equivalent to invent + -ion

Example Sentences

In fact, the “pie chart” remains in use to this very day, although the Incorrigible children themselves are rarely, if ever, given credit for its invention.

Read more on Literature

“What a curious invention,” Penelope thought as she turned the handlebars this way and that, just to get the feel of it.

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In carrying out their underwater discoveries and excavations, Bass and his colleagues introduced groundbreaking inventions and techniques that greatly advanced how marine archaeology is conducted.

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AI is profoundly changing both the method of invention and the speed of innovation.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

To see how we’ve evolved from the era of pigeonhole desks to today’s Zoom calls, it’s worth taking a close look at 10 landmark inventions.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal