Immaculate Conception

noun

1

: the conception of the Virgin Mary in which as decreed in Roman Catholic dogma her soul was preserved free from original sin by divine grace

2

: December 8 observed as a Roman Catholic feast in commemoration of the Immaculate Conception

Examples of Immaculate Conception in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

After the presentation outside the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on North Franklin Street, community members were invited to add their own touches to the canvas. —Laura Fay, CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026

After a greeting and a few words from the palace balcony, the Pope went to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception to pray with the Bishop of Monaco. —Séraphine Roger, Vanity Fair, 28 Mar. 2026

Most Anglican churches do not require belief in Catholic Marian doctrines such as the Immaculate Conception. —Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Mar. 2026

One survivor described being groomed more than a year before he was abused by the pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Cranston in 1981. —Arkansas Online, 24 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for Immaculate Conception

• apperception
• contraception
• interception
• misconception
• misperception
• preconception
• deception
• exception
• inception
• perception
• reception
• intussusception

Kids Definition

Immaculate Conception

noun

: December 8 observed as a Roman Catholic festival in honor of the conception of the Virgin Mary as free from original sin