conception

noun con·cep·tion \ kən-ˈsep-shən \

|Updated on: 13 Aug 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: conception in a Sentence

Definition of conception

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

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conceptional

play \kən-ˈsep-shnəl, -shə-nᵊl\ adjective

—

conceptive

play \kən-ˈsep-tiv\ adjective

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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 of conception from the Web

For most of the first half of the 19th century, eastern America’s conception of the western portion of North America could be spelled out in three words: Great American Desert.

— johnforristerross, Longreads, "Taming the Great American Desert," 2 July 2018
Despite popular conceptions to the contrary (see also here and here), a large body of research has shown that PKOs are surprisingly effective at keeping the peace.

— håvard hegre, Washington Post, "U.N. peacekeeping really can be effective. Here’s how we tabulated this.," 28 June 2018
Mulligan also points out that society’s conception of fairness can change over time.

— jonathan vanian, Fortune, "Unmasking A.I.'s Bias Problem," 25 June 2018
On set, the legions of specialists and consultants working on the minutiae took orders from Kubrick, whose conception of the whole remained in constant flux.

— junot díaz, The New Yorker, "“2001: A Space Odyssey”: What It Means, and How It Was Made," 17 Apr. 2018
If anything, what really unites boy bands throughout history comes not in their conception, but in their reception: How young, rabid and ear-splittingly friggin' loud was their fanbase?

— billboard staff, Billboard, "The 100 Greatest Boy Band Songs of All Time: Critics' Picks," 23 Apr. 2018
Yet the operators of Schlitterbahn Waterpark of Kansas City, Kan., opened the ride, Verrückt, in July 2014 — only 20 months from its conception to grand opening.

— jacey fortin, BostonGlobe.com, "Water slide that decapitated boy violated design standards, indictment says," 27 Mar. 2018
At the time of its conception, it was considered mainly to be an oral work delivered to a listening public.

— david grossman, Popular Mechanics, "Oldest Known Section of 'The Odyssey' Found on Clay Tablet," 11 July 2018
On other issues, the president has shown little inclination to put (his conception of) America’s long-term interests above his own short-term political gain.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "On Eve of Trade War, China Warns That Trump’s Tariffs Will Backfire," 5 July 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.

Origin and Etymology of conception

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

See Words from the same year

conception Synonyms

Synonyms

abstraction, cogitation, concept, idea, image, impression, intellection, mind's eye, notion, picture, thought;

Near Antonyms

actuality, fact, reality;

preconception, prejudice, prepossession;

delusion, hallucination, illusion, phantasm (also fantasm);

caprice, conceit, fancy, vagary, whim;

cognition, observation, perception, reflection;

assumption, belief, conclusion, conviction;

conjecture, guess, hunch, hypothesis, speculation, supposition, surmise, theory;

brainchild, brainstorm, brain wave, inspiration;

Synonym Discussion of 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.