evocation

noun

evo·​ca·​tion ˌē-vō-ˈkā-shən 

ˌe-və-

1

: the act or fact of evoking : summoning: such as

a

: the summoning of a spirit

b

: imaginative recreation

an evocation of the past

2

: induction sense 3c

evocator

ˈē-vō-ˌkā-tər 

ˈe-və-

noun

Examples of evocation in a Sentence

rich evocations of the sights, sounds, and smells of the carnival

the evocation of a simpler time

Recent Examples on the Web

Last month, the image of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo being pinned to the ground, his torso pierced by a bullet, became the latest evocation of that history. — Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2026

Another finds his misery exacerbated by a Christmas spent shooting a war movie opposite its star Brad Pitt’s stand-in, in a rare evocation of how impersonal blockbuster filmmaking has become. — Judy Berman, Time, 11 Aug. 2026

But his most consequential innovation was the evocation of an inner life in his subjects. — Carmen Rosenberg-Miller, Artforum, 6 Aug. 2026

Enough of the shoot was done in Provincetown itself to provide a warm evocation of the popular Massachusetts summertime destination, even if the movie could almost be accused of straight-washing its picturesque setting. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 29 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin evocation-, evocatio, from evocare

First Known Use

1633, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for evocation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

evocation

noun

evo·​ca·​tion ˌē-vō-ˈkā-shən 

ˌev-ə-

: an act or instance of evoking

Medical Definition

evocation

noun

evo·​ca·​tion ˌē-vō-ˈkā-shən  ˌev-ə- 

: induction sense 3b

specifically : initiation of development of a primary embryonic axis