invocation
noun
in·vo·ca·tion
ˌin-və-ˈkā-shən 
1
a
: the act or process of petitioning for help or support
specifically, often capitalized
: a prayer of entreaty (as at the beginning of a service of worship)
b
: a calling upon for authority or justification
2
: a formula for conjuring : incantation
3
: an act of legal or moral implementation : enforcement
Examples of invocation in a Sentence
his repeated invocations of the ancient philosophers
justifying his position by invocation of the past
The poem begins with an invocation of the Muses.
They began the meeting with an invocation.
Recent Examples on the Web
The high court case centers on the opportunity people must have to contest their removal from the United States — without determining whether Trump’s invocation of the law was appropriate.
—
Mark Sherman, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2025
That strategy has included mass deportations, workplace raids, and even the invocation of an obscure 18th-century wartime statute, The Alien Enemies Act, to expedite the removal of Venezuelan migrants.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 May 2025
Dolan offered the invocation during Trump’s second inauguration ceremony in January.
—Meredith Kile, People.com, 8 May 2025
The judge also rejected the administration’s other arguments, including that the courts have no authority to review the president’s invocation of the law.
—Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for invocation
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Mark Sherman, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2025
That strategy has included mass deportations, workplace raids, and even the invocation of an obscure 18th-century wartime statute, The Alien Enemies Act, to expedite the removal of Venezuelan migrants.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 May 2025
Dolan offered the invocation during Trump’s second inauguration ceremony in January.
—Meredith Kile, People.com, 8 May 2025
The judge also rejected the administration’s other arguments, including that the courts have no authority to review the president’s invocation of the law.
—Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for invocation
Cite this Entry
“Invocation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/invocation. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
invocation
noun
in·vo·ca·tion
ˌin-və-ˈkā-shən
1
a
: the act or process of asking for help or support
b
: a prayer for blessing or guidance (as at the beginning of a religious service)
2
: a formula for calling forth spirits or performing magic : incantation
Legal Definition
invocation
noun
in·vo·ca·tion
ˌin-və-ˈkā-shən
1
: a calling upon for authority or justification
2
: an act of legal implementation
an invocation of the contract clause
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