conception

noun

con·cep·tion | \ kən-ˈsep-shən

Definition of conception

1a(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

2a : 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

Other Words from conception Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about conception

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Other Words from conception

conceptional \ kən-ˈsep-shnəl ,

-shə-nᵊl \ adjective

conceptive \ kən-ˈsep-tiv

\ adjective

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

In its conception, the C-HR is an urban crossover: a small SUV/large hatchback for transporting people and a limited amount of their gear around cities and suburbs. — John Scott Lewinski, Ars Technica, "Toyota goes beyond boring and beige with the 2018 C-HR crossover," 4 Sep. 2018 Another factor in the overrun was that not all of the technology needed for JWST had been created at the time of its conception. — Loren Grush, The Verge, "Why NASA is struggling to get its most powerful space telescope off the ground," 1 Aug. 2018 The plans for the parade have varied dramatically since its earlier conception. — David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, "World War I Military Parade Will Cost $12 Million," 19 July 2018 Piero’s picture reminds us that death begins at the moment of birth, or even of conception. — Willard Spiegelman, WSJ, "On the Brink of the Savior’s Arrival," 12 Oct. 2018 But after the capital legalized first-trimester abortions on demand in 2007, over half the states passed right-to-life bills declaring that life begins at conception. — Fox News, "Mexico City bans use of attractive models during city events," 19 Aug. 2018 Alito himself notes that this would still be preventing pregnancy by its federal regulation standards, but in reality, both methods nearly always work by preventing either ovulation or fertilization — so that the moment of conception never happens. — Dawn Huckelbridge, Teen Vogue, "Trump's Supreme Court Nominee Threatens Contraception Access, Too," 17 July 2018 But millions of Americans were perfectly happy to provide their own reply: life begins at conception. — Jonathan Zimmerman, The New Republic, "Overturning Roe v. Wade Could Remake American Politics," 5 July 2018 In layman's terms, that means that, prior to the quads' conceptions, Kortney Miller released four eggs at once. — Sarah Schreiber, Good Housekeeping, "This Mom Became 1 in 700,00 When She Conceived Quadruplets Naturally," 22 Dec. 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'conception.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.