invention

noun in·ven·tion \ in-ˈven(t)-shən \

|Updated on: 18 Jun 2018

Examples: invention in a Sentence

Editor's Note: What is the difference between innovation and invention?

Definition of invention

1 : discovery, finding

2 : productive imagination : inventiveness

3 a : something invented: such as

(1) : a product of the imagination; especially : a false conception

(2) : a device, contrivance, or process originated after study and experiment

b : a short keyboard composition featuring two- or three-part counterpoint

4 : the act or process of inventing

See invention defined for English-language learners

See invention defined for kids

Examples of invention in a Sentence

The light bulb was one of the most important inventions of the 19th century.
The stories he told about his military service were just inventions.
His explanation was pure invention.
Parts of the movie were accurate, but much of it was invention.
the invention of a new product
the invention of a false story
an artist with exceptional powers of invention

Recent Examples of invention from the Web

Ongoing Exhibits Pathways to Paradise: Medieval India and Europe — Getty Center Closes August 5 Global sharing of ideas didn’t start with the invention of the internet.

— brittany martin, Los Angeles Magazine, "The Best Exhibits at Museums and Galleries in L.A. This Month," 5 June 2018
But Capitol Hill appears to be reacting differently to Tony Cárdenas, a Democrat from the San Fernando Valley who flatly denies the allegations as the invention of a disgruntled former staff member.

— shelby grad, latimes.com, "Essential California: Scandals put scrutiny on USC leadership, culture," 21 May 2018
Selfie technology took a giant leap forward with the invention of the camera phone.

— michael weigold, Philly.com, "Selfie psychology: Would you risk your life for a photo?," 9 May 2018
The Koss Porta Pro Wireless are the most obviously good and desirable thing in the world of headphones since the invention of detachable wires.

— vlad savov, The Verge, "Koss Porta Pro Wireless review: a classic mistake," 3 May 2018
Ancient Judaistic tradition was passed down 3,000 years before the invention of the sonogram.

— guest columnist/cleveland.com, cleveland.com, "Science, not religion, should determine public policy on abortion: Joel Berry (Opinion)," 29 Apr. 2018
Patented 100 years ago, Hoge’s invention was the forerunner of a ubiquitous and uncelebrated device that has shaped American cities and daily life ever since-—the stoplight.

— megan kate nelson, Smithsonian, "A Brief History of the Stoplight," 18 Apr. 2018
The inventions that this provocation yielded are similarly poetic.

— diana budds, Curbed, "5 reasons why Neri Oxman is more important than Brad Pitt right now," 11 Apr. 2018
An invention of prolific arms designer John Moses Browning, the Hi Power was the inventor’s last pistol design.

— kyle mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "The Legendary Browning 'Hi Power' Pistol Ends Production," 7 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'invention.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

What is the difference between innovation and invention?

The words innovation and invention overlap semantically but are really quite distinct.

Invention can refer to a type of musical composition, a falsehood, a discovery, or any product of the imagination. The sense of invention most likely to be confused with innovation is “a device, contrivance, or process originated after study and experiment,” usually something which has not previously been in existence.

Innovation, for its part, can refer to something new or to a change made to an existing product, idea, or field. One might say that the first telephone was an invention, the first cellular telephone either an invention or an innovation, and the first smartphone an innovation.

First Known Use of invention

14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

invention Synonyms

INVENTION Defined for Kids

invention

noun in·ven·tion \ in-ˈven-shən \

Definition of invention for Students

1 : an original device or process

2 : ³lie

The story was just an invention.

3 : the act or process of inventing

4 : the ability to think of new ideas

He was a man of invention.

Law Dictionary

invention

noun in·ven·tion

legal Definition of invention

: a device, process, or discovery under U.S. patent law that is new and useful, that reflects extraordinary creative ability or skill, and that makes a distinct and recognized contribution to and advancement of science; also : the act or process of creating such an invention — compare aggregation, combination, equivalent