Instantiation
//ɪnˌstænʃiˈeɪʃən// noun
noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The production of an instance, example, or specific application of a general classification, principle, theory, etc. uncountable
- 2 a representation of an idea in the form of an instance of it wordnet
- 3 Something resulting from the act of instantiating; an instance. countable
"I can name numerous instantiations of this gift of luck at work in my hostʼs life."
- 4 A creation of an instance of some class or template. broadly, countable, uncountable
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
More examples"I can name numerous instantiations of this gift of luck at work in my hostʼs life."
Etymology
A coinage of the twentieth century, from instantiate + -ion, itself coined in 1946 from instance + -ate. The latter, in the sense "a case, an example", from Middle English instance, from Medieval Latin īnstantia (“a being near, presence; also perseverance, earnestness, importunity, urgency”), from Latin īnstāns (“urgent”); see English instant.
Related phrases
More for "instantiation"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.