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manifestation

American  
[man-uh-fuh-stey-shuhn, -fe-] / ˌmæn ə fəˈsteɪ ʃən, -fɛ- /

noun

  • manifestations
    plural
  1. an act of manifesting.

    This graffiti is the latest manifestation of a prejudice in our community that we will not tolerate.

  2. the state of being manifested.

    The poem calls sacrifice the highest manifestation of love.

  3. outward or perceptible indication; materialization.

    At first there was no manifestation of the disease.

  4. a public demonstration, as for political effect.

  5. the act or practice of trying to attain something desired by thinking about or focusing intensely on it, especially as a spiritual or self-help practice.

    His videos on manifestation are very popular with younger audiences.

  6. Also called materializationSpiritualism. the physical appearance of a spirit, or the physical evidence of a spirit's presence.


manifestation British  
/ ˌmænɪfɛˈsteɪʃən /

noun

  1. the act of demonstrating; display

    a manifestation of solidarity

  2. the state of being manifested

  3. an indication or sign

  4. a public demonstration of feeling

  5. the materialization of a disembodied spirit

"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

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns

Etymology

Origin of manifestation

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Late Latin manifestātiōn-, stem of manifestātiō; see manifest, -ation

Explanation

A manifestation is the public display of emotion or feeling, or something theoretical made real. Manifestation's origins are in religion and spirituality because if something spiritual becomes real, it is said to be a manifestation. The word's usage has spread to include all aspects of life. "The submarine is a manifestation of da Vinci's sketches." "The crowd's cheering hysteria was the manifestation of years of allegiance to the now victorious soccer league."

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing manifestation

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:

She assumed it would pass, but it was a vocal tic and her first known manifestation of her Tourette's syndrome, a condition that causes people to make sudden, repetitive sounds or movements.

From BBC Aug. 11, 2026

He thinks troubled High Streets are a "visual manifestation of the economic hardship that a lot of places feel".

From BBC Jun. 7, 2026

In an era where batting averages are plummeting and homers and strikeouts are nearing all-time highs, Murakami serves as the ultimate manifestation of baseball’s unending pursuit of power at all costs.

From The Wall Street Journal Apr. 30, 2026

LACMA’s staff was elated, especially those who have been watching the project develop for decades and absorbing the large amounts of criticism that have accompanied its manifestation.

From Los Angeles Times Apr. 17, 2026

The experiment that led to writing Black Like Me was done at the very end of 1959, before the first “freedom rides” or any other manifestation of national concern about racial injustice.

From "Black Like Me" by John Howard Griffin

Speakers condemned extremism in all its manifestations, but they also criticised the government for a lack of support, singling out recent budget cuts for queer organisations.

From BBC Jul. 26, 2026

The lemons and candles Pochettino keeps in his office are manifestations of energia universal or universal energy, a foundational concept common to many Eastern philosophies that believe a fundamental life force connects all things.

From Los Angeles Times Jun. 25, 2026

Subtitled “The Loving, Messy Realities of Sibling Relationships,” Ms. Carr’s book operates as an extended prompt to the reader to appreciate the many manifestations of familial coevals.

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 9, 2026

There he wallops American culture in all its manifestations.

From Salon Apr. 19, 2026

To psychoanalyze my grandmother’s heart palpitations: they were the manifestations of grief.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides

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