conjugation

noun

con·ju·ga·tion | \ˌkän-jə-ˈgā-shən

Definition of conjugation

1a : a schematic arrangement of the inflectional forms of a verb

b : verb inflection

c : a class of verbs having the same type of inflectional forms the weak conjugation

d : a set of the simple or derivative inflectional forms of a verb especially in Sanskrit or the Semitic languages the causative conjugation

2 : the act of conjugating : the state of being conjugated

3a : fusion of usually similar gametes with ultimate union of their nuclei and sexual reproduction that occurs in most fungi and in some algae (such as green algae)

b : temporary cytoplasmic union with exchange of nuclear material that is the usual sexual process in ciliated protozoans

c : the one-way transfer of DNA between bacteria in cellular contact

Other Words from conjugation Example Sentences Learn More about conjugation

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Examples of conjugation in a Sentence

a lesson on French verb conjugation

Recent Examples on the Web

The French national team at this World Cup has been about as inscrutable as French conjugation. — Joshua Robinson, WSJ, "France Puts It All Together to Advance to World Cup Semifinals," 6 July 2018 All the coins are partitioned into groups with the same itineraries and all the itineraries are paired up by conjugation. — Nicholas Diaco, Scientific American, "Privacy and Counterfeit Coins," 20 Mar. 2018 Flanagan’s prose becomes languidly reliant on the verb feel and all its conjugations. — William Giraldi, Philly.com, "Richard Flanagan's 'First Person': A ghostwriter who fights lies with lies," 6 Apr. 2018 For example, languages lose irregular verb conjugations or other word forms that are hard to remember. — Michael Erard, Science | AAAS, "How the English language has evolved like a living creature," 1 Nov. 2017

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