conjugation

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

Keep scrolling for more

Examples of conjugation in a Sentence

a lesson on French verb conjugation

Recent Examples on the Web This is frequently the case in language where, for example, the correct conjugation of a verb or gender of a pronoun at the end of a sentence can depend on a subject that occurs at the start of the sentence, or even several sentences back. — Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, "A.I. breakthroughs in natural-language processing are big for business," 20 Jan. 2020 That discovery, known as conjugation, involves attaching proteins to the polysaccharides — complex sugars — on the bacterium’s outer capsule. — BostonGlobe.com, "NEW YORK — Dr. John B. Robbins, a pioneer in vaccinology and one of the inventors of the first effective defense against a form of meningitis that once killed more than a thousand infants a day worldwide, died Nov. 27 at his home in Manhattan. He was 86.," 19 Dec. 2019 There are also more traditional modes of learning that should bolster your vocabulary and conjugation skills. — Benjamin Levin, CNN Underscored, "Learn a language or two with this lifetime subscription to Mondly," 21 Nov. 2019 Incorrect punctuation and grammar conjugation were not counted. — Marina Di Marzo, CNN, "How often does Trump misspell words on Twitter? These researchers have an answer," 3 Nov. 2019 In addition to the Civil War and verb conjugation, part of my seventh-grade curriculum focused on advancing our computer literacy. — Popular Mechanics Editors, Popular Mechanics, "The Sites That Mean the Most to Us," 1 Nov. 2019 For her, sometimes the conjugation was a haphazard intertwining, with loose swings—other times more planned and positive. — Diane Williams, Harper's magazine, "Five Stories," 28 Oct. 2019 Helping students learn from mistakes, take responsibility and grow is as critical to their future as math equations and verb conjugations — perhaps more so. — Braden Bell, Washington Post, "Eight things for parents to keep in mind when dealing with school discipline issues," 6 Sep. 2019 During the first three weeks, as students chanted verb conjugations and ate oatmeal in the courtyard of the school’s low-slung yellow buildings, four more disappeared. — Natalie Keyssar, National Geographic, "How this quiet region in Guatemala became the epicenter of migration," 26 July 2019

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.