inflection

noun

in·​flec·​tion in-ˈflek-shən 

1

: change in pitch or loudness of the voice

2

a

: the change of form that words undergo to mark such distinctions as those of case, gender, number, tense, person, mood, or voice

b

: a form, suffix, or element involved in such variation

c

: accidence

3

: the act or result of curving or bending : bend

4

a

: change in curvature of an arc or curve from concave to convex or conversely

b

: inflection point

Did you know?

Changing the pitch, tone, or loudness of our words are ways we communicate meaning in speech, though not on the printed page. A rising inflection at the end of a sentence generally indicates a question, and a falling inflection indicates a statement, for example. Another way of inflecting words is by adding endings: -s to make a noun plural, -ed to put a verb in the past tense, -er to form the comparative form of an adjective, and so on.

Synonyms of inflection

• curvature
• curve
• angle
• bend
• turn

Examples of inflection in a Sentence

She spoke with no inflection.

She read the lines with an upward inflection.

Most English adjectives do not require inflection.

“Gone” and “went” are inflections of the verb “go.”

English has fewer inflections than many other languages.

Recent Examples on the Web

The contrast between svn4vr’s different inflections evokes the spiritual tension of a pious person torn between worldly desire and submission to a higher power. —H.d. Angel, Pitchfork, 9 Apr. 2026

Trade timing & outlook Alphabet recently reclaimed the $310 resistance area, which has become an important technical inflection zone after the sharp geopolitical volatility of the past several weeks. —Tony Zhang, CNBC, 8 Apr. 2026

At key moments of inflection, business leaders have often, if selectively, and even reluctantly, risen as a unified voice of patriotic purpose and moral authority. —Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 6 Apr. 2026

The chorus leaves the beach for the boardwalk, its cocky doo-wop inflections presenting loneliness less as an inner weakness and more as a loyalty test. —Reed Jackson, SPIN, 16 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1531, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing inflection

• inflection point
• point of inflection

Rhymes for inflection

• abjection
• advection
• affection
• bijection
• bisection
• collection
• complexion
• confection
• connection
• connexion
• convection
• correction

Kids Definition

inflection

noun

in·​flec·​tion in-ˈflek-shən 

1

: a change in the pitch or tone of a person's voice

2

: the change in the form of a word showing its case, gender, number, person, tense, mood, voice, or comparison

inflectional

-shnəl, 

-shən-ᵊl

adjective

Medical Definition

inflection

noun

in·​flec·​tion

variants or chiefly British inflexion

in-ˈflek-shən 

: the act or result of curving or bending