plural conceptions
1
: the act or process of conceiving something: such as
a
: the process of forming an idea
He directed the project from conception to production.
the conception of a new device
b
: the process that occurs within a woman's body when she becomes pregnant
the moment of conception
2
: an idea of what something is or should be : concept
They have a clear conception of how the process works.
a child's conception of responsibility
They have very different conceptions of the proper role of government.
He has no conception of the problems we have to face. [=he does not understand or realize the problems we have to face]
Cite this Entry
“Conception.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/conception. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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