What does "conception" mean?
The act of conceiving.
Conception
/kənˈsɛpʃən/ noun
noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The act of conceiving.
- Grammar: conception is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: concept, abstract thought, act of thought, appreciation.
- Useful contrasts: birth, bring forth, ignorance.
- Usage evidence: Immaculate conception simply means that the Virgin Mary herself was born without original sin. Virgin birth is how Christ came about.
How to use "conception"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "conception" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "conception" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "conception" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "conception" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "conception" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "concept" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "conception", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The act of conceiving. countable, uncountable
- 2 the act of becoming pregnant; fertilization of an ovum by a spermatozoon wordnet
- 3 The state of being conceived; the beginning. countable, uncountable
- 4 the creation of something in the mind wordnet
- 5 The fertilization of an ovum by a sperm to form a zygote. countable, uncountable
"Some powers diuine, or els infernall, mixt Their angry ſeedes at his conception: For he was neuer ſprong of humaine race, Since with the ſpirit of his fearefull pride, He dares so doubtleſly reſolue of rule."
Show 6 more definitions
- 6 an abstract or general idea inferred or derived from specific instances wordnet
- 7 The start of pregnancy. countable, uncountable
- 8 the event that occurred at the beginning of something wordnet
- 9 The formation of a conceptus or an implanted embryo. countable, uncountable
- 10 The power or faculty of apprehending of forming an idea in the mind; the power of recalling a past sensation or perception; the ability to form mental abstractions. countable, uncountable
"What the school books say about the united efforts of the two great Rossums is all a fairy tale. They used to have dreadful rows. The old atheist hadn't the slightest conception of industrial matters, and the end of it was that young Rossum shut him up in some laboratory or other and let him fritter the time away with his monstrosities, while he himself started on the business from an engineer's point of view."
- 11 An image, idea, or notion formed in the mind; a concept, plan or design. countable, uncountable
"Elegant brick and stone buildings, with iron and glass canopies and decorative wooden scalloping and fencing—all evidencing care on the part of the architect to produce a pleasing, well-planned building—were submerged beneath a profusion of ill-conceived additions and camouflaged by vulgar paint schemes; and the original conception was lost."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Immaculate conception simply means that the Virgin Mary herself was born without original sin. Virgin birth is how Christ came about."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "conception"?
Common synonyms include: concept, abstract thought, act of thought, appreciation, apprehension, approach.
How do you use "conception" in a sentence?
Immaculate conception simply means that the Virgin Mary herself was born without original sin. Virgin birth is how Christ came about.
How do you pronounce "conception"?
Pronounced /kənˈsɛpʃən/.
Etymology
From Middle English concepcioun, borrowed from Old French conception, from Latin conceptiō (“a comprehending, a collection, composition, an expression, also a becoming pregnant”), from concipiō, past participle conceptus (“conceive”); see conceive. Equivalent to conceive + -tion.