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

Ghost imaging isn’t all that ghostly In ghost imaging’s original conception, the quantum properties of light were an essential part of the imaging process. — Chris Lee, Ars Technica, "Humans can perform ghost imaging, no computer required," 4 Sep. 2018 Artificial ingredients, synthetic hormones, and potential contaminants could make conception less likely and may even be harmful to a potential fetus. — Suzannah Weiss, Glamour, "9 Foods to Avoid If You're Trying to Get Pregnant," 17 Apr. 2019 Eudaimonia involves a more objective conception of living as a human ought to live, according to our species’ true nature. — Julian Baggini, WSJ, "‘Aristotle’s Way’ Review: Philosophize and Flourish," 15 Feb. 2019 Studies have shown that just 25 weeks after conception, fetuses can be seen grasping at the umbilical cord inside the womb. — Carolyn Twersky, Seventeen, "Why Do Couples Hold Hands?," 4 Jan. 2019 The popular conception is that companies come to China because of low labor cost. — Emily Stewart, Vox, "How much would the iPhone cost if it were made in America?," 21 Sep. 2018 And the popular conception of the military is of a thoroughly conservative institution — a narrative stoked by high-profile stories of, say, the Christian right’s hold on the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. — David Scharfenberg, BostonGlobe.com, "The US military: The greatest social engineering machine ever built," 9 June 2018 That conception is disturbingly at odds with the ideas of physicists and philosophers, however, because if time is a dimension like those of space, then yesterday, today and tomorrow are all equally concrete and determined. — The Editors, Scientific American, "What Time Is It?," 24 Oct. 2014 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

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.