inflection

noun

in·​flec·​tion in-ˈflek-shən How to pronounce inflection (audio)
1
: change in pitch or loudness of the voice
2
a
: the change of form that words undergo to mark such distinctions as those of case, gender, number, tense, person, mood, or voice
b
: a form, suffix, or element involved in such variation
c
3
: the act or result of curving or bending : bend
4
a
: change in curvature of an arc or curve from concave to convex or conversely

Did you know?

Changing the pitch, tone, or loudness of our words are ways we communicate meaning in speech, though not on the printed page. A rising inflection at the end of a sentence generally indicates a question, and a falling inflection indicates a statement, for example. Another way of inflecting words is by adding endings: -s to make a noun plural, -ed to put a verb in the past tense, -er to form the comparative form of an adjective, and so on.

Examples of inflection in a Sentence

She spoke with no inflection. She read the lines with an upward inflection. Most English adjectives do not require inflection. “Gone” and “went” are inflections of the verb “go.” English has fewer inflections than many other languages.
Recent Examples on the Web Throughout the interview, the actress — who was born to British parents and spent much of her childhood in Bournemouth, England before eventually moving to Orlando, Florida — largely spoke in an American accent, while some words carried an English inflection. Sadie Bell, Peoplemag, 1 Mar. 2024 Some simple active listening gestures can include mirroring the other's body language and tone of voice, using the inflection of the voice to convey sympathy, and leaning forward slightly or nodding occasionally. 5. Rachel Wells, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 Which is all very even-keeled and level-headed, but, a little like with Veronica Lee’s insistently winsome score, the lack of inflection in the film’s infinitely broad-spectrum compassion can sometimes feel less like restraint and more like timidity. Jessica Kiang, Variety, 25 Feb. 2024 Vocally, these songs expect so much from you with the harmonies and the inflections. Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 31 Jan. 2024 Its candidate, Hou Yu-ih, spoke with such a strong Taiwanese accent that Mandarin speakers unfamiliar with local inflections had a hard time understanding him. Damien Cave, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2024 The inflections tell us these dancers know this is true culturally, even while the opposite unfolds economically. Harmony Holiday, Los Angeles Times, 1 Dec. 2023 What were the biggest inflections for NewFest in its 35-year history? Abbey White, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Oct. 2023 Pichon and his musicians encompass this multiplicity of voices and add their own personal inflections. Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'inflection.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1531, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of inflection was in 1531

Dictionary Entries Near inflection

Cite this Entry

“Inflection.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inflection. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

inflection

noun
in·​flec·​tion in-ˈflek-shən How to pronounce inflection (audio)
1
: a change in the pitch or tone of a person's voice
2
: the change in the form of a word showing its case, gender, number, person, tense, mood, voice, or comparison
inflectional
-shnəl
-shən-ᵊl
adjective

Medical Definition

inflection

noun
in·​flec·​tion
variants or chiefly British inflexion
: the act or result of curving or bending

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