incarnation

noun

in·​car·​na·​tion ˌin-(ˌ)kär-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce incarnation (audio)
1
: the act of incarnating : the state of being incarnate
2
: a particular physical form or state : version
in another incarnation he might be a first vice-presidentWalter Teller
TV and movie incarnations of the story
3
a
: a concrete or actual form of a quality or concept
especially : a person showing a trait or typical character to a marked degree
she is the incarnation of goodness
b(1)
capitalized : the union of divinity with humanity in Jesus Christ
(2)
: the embodiment of a deity or spirit in some earthly form
incarnational adjective

Examples of incarnation in a Sentence

the doctrine of the Incarnation she is the very incarnation of grace and tactfulness
Recent Examples on the Web Tonight’s appearance marked Dylan’s first at Farm Aid since its debut 1985 incarnation in Champaign, Ill. Jonathan Cohen, Spin, 24 Sep. 2023 Two seasons when the league championship was won by the Birmingham Stallions, a re-homage to the Stallions of the infant USFL, which did not survive but was reborn in this new incarnation. Roy S. Johnson | Rjohnson@al.com, al, 19 Sep. 2023 The latest incarnation has no actors attached or script, with a writer to be hired after the WGA strike concludes. Aaron Couch, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Sep. 2023 The Breakers finally folded in 2017, yet that incarnation of the team included five players who were still going strong at this past World Cup. Frank Dell'apa, BostonGlobe.com, 19 Sep. 2023 As Blue Beetle, Jaime is the third incarnation of the character. Kaely Monahan, The Arizona Republic, 16 Aug. 2023 The metaverse is either the next incarnation of the internet or just an ingeniously vague label for a bunch of overhyped things that will mostly fail. Amy Dickinson, Anchorage Daily News, 13 Aug. 2023 The new incarnation of Farm, inspired by Bianco’s Tratto in Phoenix and also by the lushness of the Napa Valley, will open this fall. Andy Wang, Robb Report, 13 Sep. 2023 There’s no doubt that antitrust enforcement will play a huge role in shaping the tech sector’s incoming incarnation. Bydavid Meyer, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'incarnation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3b(2)

Time Traveler
The first known use of incarnation was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near incarnation

Cite this Entry

“Incarnation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incarnation. Accessed 2 Oct. 2023.

Kids Definition

incarnation

noun
in·​car·​na·​tion ˌin-ˌkär-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce incarnation (audio)
1
: the appearance of a god or spirit in an earthly form
2
capitalized : the union of divine and human natures in Jesus Christ
3
: an actual instance of a quality or concept
she was the incarnation of goodness

More from Merriam-Webster on incarnation

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