incarnation

noun

in·​car·​na·​tion ˌin-(ˌ)kär-ˈnā-shən 

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-president

—Walter 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

ˌin-(ˌ)kär-ˈnā-sh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

Synonyms

• abstract
• avatar
• embodier
• embodiment
• epitome
• externalization
• genius
• icon
• ikon
• image
• incorporation
• instantiation
• manifestation
• objectification
• personification
• personifier

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

Every form of collecting is an effort to stop time, but book collecting is a singularly hopeful incarnation of that wish. —Tad Friend, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2024

Staying on for the Freeform incarnation of Project Runway are producers Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz from Alfred Street Industries. —Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 17 Oct. 2024

Finally, a reboot that’s not a reboot, a revival that’s not a revival, and a new incarnation of I.P. that doesn’t require you to know the difference between those two distinct words. —Ben Travers, IndieWire, 17 Oct. 2024

What’s clear is the latest incarnation will be a discovery. —Henry Flynn, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

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

Kids Definition

incarnation

noun

in·​car·​na·​tion ˌin-ˌkär-ˈnā-shən 

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