conception

noun

con·​cep·​tion kən-ˈsep-shən 

1

a(1)

: the process of becoming pregnant involving fertilization or implantation or both

(2)

: embryo, fetus

b

: beginning

"Joy had the like conception in our eyes … "

—William Shakespeare

2

a

: the capacity, function, or process of forming or understanding ideas or abstractions or their symbols

He directed the project from conception to completion.

b

: a general idea : concept

We get the conception of an animal … by comparing different animals …

—John Stuart Mill

c

: a complex product of abstract or reflective thinking

the philosopher's conception of reality

d

: the sum of a person's ideas and beliefs concerning something

his conception of the American dream

3

: the originating of something in the mind

an artist's conception of how the city would look a hundred years from now

conceptional

kən-ˈsep-shnəl 

-shə-nᵊl

adjective

conceptive

kən-ˈsep-tiv 

adjective

Synonyms

• concept
• generality
• generalization
• notion
• stereotype

Choose the Right Synonym for conception

idea, concept, conception, thought, notion, impression mean what exists in the mind as a representation (as of something comprehended) or as a formulation (as of a plan).

idea may apply to a mental image or formulation of something seen or known or imagined, to a pure abstraction, or to something assumed or vaguely sensed.

innovative ideas

my idea of paradise

concept may apply to the idea formed by consideration of instances of a species or genus or, more broadly, to any idea of what a thing ought to be.

a society with no concept of private property

conception is often interchangeable with concept; it may stress the process of imagining or formulating rather than the result.

our changing conception of what constitutes art

thought is likely to suggest the result of reflecting, reasoning, or meditating rather than of imagining.

commit your thoughts to paper

notion suggests an idea not much resolved by analysis or reflection and may suggest the capricious or accidental.

you have the oddest notions

impression applies to an idea or notion resulting immediately from some stimulation of the senses.

the first impression is of soaring height

Examples of conception in a Sentence

He directed the project from conception to production.

the conception of a new device

They have a clear conception of how the process works.

a child's conception of responsibility

They have very different conceptions of the proper role of government.

Recent Examples on the Web

But his identity has remained a mystery, his voice seemingly distorted and face obscured in a rare — and dramatic — video shared by the Orioles soon after his conception. —Abigail Gruskin, Baltimore Sun, 12 Sep. 2023

The risk is further increased for those who've had endometriosis, tubal ligations, pelvic infections, and prior pelvic, abdominal, or fallopian tube surgeries, as well as those who had an intrauterine device (IUD) in place at the time of conception. —Rebecca Stewart, Parents, 6 Sep. 2023

In nearly every country, copyright requires an act of authorship—the artwork must reflect someone's original mental conception. —Will Bedingfield, WIRED, 31 Aug. 2023

Connections within the neural network can piece together a general conception of what the face looks like from different angles and with different expressions. —Saugat Bolakhe, Quanta Magazine, 30 Aug. 2023

Their near-simultaneous conception is not an accident, but a sign. —Phillip MacIak, The New Republic, 24 Aug. 2023

The community combines aesthetic beauty and the magnetic pull of place with idealized conceptions of racial equality that have required amazing efforts by so many of the people whose lives Meckler has chronicled. —Steven Litt, cleveland, 18 Aug. 2023

This last twist shifts the narrative from being solely a tale about the tragic failure of the man to own his part in the conception and destruction of their fetus. —William Nash, The Conversation, 29 Aug. 2023

And video games have, on and off, been pretty important to me and my conception of community. —Willing Davidson, The New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2023

See More

Word History

Etymology

Middle English concepcioun, from Anglo-French concepcion, from Latin conception-, conceptio, from concipere — see concept entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Phrases Containing conception

• no conception of
• self-conception

• no conception of
• self-conception

Kids Definition

conception

noun

con·​cep·​tion kən-ˈsep-shən 

1

: the beginning of pregnancy involving formation of a zygote

2

a

: the function or process of conceiving ideas

b

: a general idea : concept

had no conception of what he was saying

3

: the originating of an idea

the conception of a new device

Medical Definition

conception

noun

con·​cep·​tion kən-ˈsep-shən 

1

a

: the process of becoming pregnant involving fertilization or implantation or both

b

: embryo, fetus

2

a

: the capacity, function, or process of forming or understanding ideas or abstractions or their symbols

b

: a general idea